Gros Misdemeanor

originally posted by mark e:
originally posted by georg lauer:
There was also a small difference in palate flavor/sensation, and here the Riedel seemed to hold a slight edge. The lack of flare on the Zalto may mean that the liquid is propelled slightly further into the mouth so that it hits the tongue closer to the middle. The Riedel's flare may mean that the liquid hits closer to the tip of the tongue, increasing the sweetness attack, leading to a more complete experience.

That seems to me the biggest difference. In the Riedel the wine just flows gently over that lip/flare and then expands in your mouth.

Agree. And is much more pleasant to drink wine from. Contrary to your impression, O, the Zalto is much less fragile. I wash them in the dishwasher. Would never do that with the Riedel Sommelier Burgundy glass.

I broke a Zalto a few weeks ago just from tipping it on its side in the sink. The stem is also visibly thinner, and tapers, whereas the Riedel's stem has a constant width. The Riedel is also a heavier glass, and seems made of slightly thicker glass, hence my impression that it appears more robust.
 
originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
originally posted by mark e:
originally posted by georg lauer:
There was also a small difference in palate flavor/sensation, and here the Riedel seemed to hold a slight edge. The lack of flare on the Zalto may mean that the liquid is propelled slightly further into the mouth so that it hits the tongue closer to the middle. The Riedel's flare may mean that the liquid hits closer to the tip of the tongue, increasing the sweetness attack, leading to a more complete experience.

That seems to me the biggest difference. In the Riedel the wine just flows gently over that lip/flare and then expands in your mouth.

Agree. And is much more pleasant to drink wine from. Contrary to your impression, O, the Zalto is much less fragile. I wash them in the dishwasher. Would never do that with the Riedel Sommelier Burgundy glass.

I broke a Zalto a few weeks ago just from tipping it on its side in the sink. The stem is also visibly thinner, and tapers, whereas the Riedel's stem has a constant width. The Riedel is also a heavier glass, and seems made of slightly thicker glass, hence my impression that it appears more robust.

Hmm . . maybe table to dishwasher is the way to go. But I have broken plenty of zalto glasses. Some, like the Riedel Overture Series, would have to be thrown against the wall before they break.
 
So, on the last three evenings we have been drinking American (for the win), using the Riedel Sommelier to familiarize ourselves with the heft.

These are wines with which we are reasonably familiar, having drunk several bottles over the years (2013 Lioco Saveria PN, 2013 Wind Gap Sonoma County PN and 2015 Arnot-Roberts North Coast Trousseau).

From what I recall of the most recent bottles of each (using our everyday Gabriel Glass copy of the Zalto Universal), with the Riedel all were less aromatic and all had a sweeter attack.

I can't discount bottle variation or the power of suggestion, but the results seemed consistent. I hesitate to go down the rabbit hole of stem prevarication, but the use of flared lips as a sweetness corrective has now become a temptation, may god have mercy on my soul (certainly preferable to chaptalization or must concentration).
 
So, another Flower night came around and we repeated the above Zalto/Riedel comparison with the more aromatic 2012 version of the Naudin-Ferrand Côte de Nuits-Villages.

The Zalto bowl shape again concentrated the aromas more, while they seemed almost closed with the Riedel.

Then, to our disappointment, the taste impression was the same, without the extra sweetness we expected from the Riedel's flare.

Fwiw, the missus and I had the same impression on both counts.

Whereas last time we were divided (she preferred the Riedel and I the Zalto), last night we both preferred the Zalto.
 
The Riedel Sommelier Grand Cru glass is quite simply far too big, almost every wine gets lost in it. Zalto is good particularly for more modest wines though for most wines the Riedel Vinum is better.
 
originally posted by Tom Blach:
for most wines the Riedel Vinum is better

I assume you don't mean the Vinum series burgundy glass is better for most wines. If not, which glass do you mean?

Basically, I have stopped using most of our expensive glassware and am quite happy with the Jancis Robinson glass for most wines on most days.
 
originally posted by Keith Levenberg:
I love the look of the Jancis glass but it's pretty damn expensive glassware itself.

Expensive glassware seems to be par for the course these days. What quality glass isn’t expensive?
 
Well, don't Schott & Riedel still cost about what they always have? But yeah, ever since Zalto raised the bar on price (and glass thinness) all the other new entrants have followed suit. Glasvin is the exception at least in relative terms. I'm really enjoying them at around $25 a stem. Haven't broken one yet but when it happens it won't sting like a broken Zalto.
 
originally posted by Keith Levenberg:
Well, don't Schott & Riedel still cost about what they always have? But yeah, ever since Zalto raised the bar on price (and glass thinness) all the other new entrants have followed suit. Glasvin is the exception at least in relative terms. I'm really enjoying them at around $25 a stem. Haven't broken one yet but when it happens it won't sting like a broken Zalto.

Which one do you use? Universal?

I bought 6 GGGs for half off when they had a big sale a few years ago, never repeated since. Four have survived. So I’m good right now on post-late ‘90s-Riedel stemware.
 
When I bought the Glasvins they only had one model. I *think* that's what they're now selling as the Universal. Those interested should go to the other bored - the owner posts coupon codes there.

The Gabriel Glas psyched me when it came out but I liked it better in theory than practice. The shape is cool but it needs to be about 10-20% bigger. But most everything else on the market needs to be about 10-20% smaller, so... That's what I like about the Glasvin - very Goldilocks in size though the shape is more utilitarian than stylish relative to the current competition.
 
originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
...the use of flared lips as a sweetness corrective has now become a temptation...
This sounds exciting, until you know it's about glassware.

FWIW, I experimented with same wine in several different glasses quite a few years ago, and while there seemed to be a large difference between a water/highball glass and the wine glasses, between the wine glasses I didn't find big differences and I felt I might be fooling myself.

It's a very hard issue on which to design a properly controlled experiment.
 
originally posted by Christian Miller (CMM):
originally posted by Oswaldo Costa:
...the use of flared lips as a sweetness corrective has now become a temptation...
This sounds exciting, until you know it's about glassware.

FWIW, I experimented with same wine in several different glasses quite a few years ago, and while there seemed to be a large difference between a water/highball glass and the wine glasses, between the wine glasses I didn't find big differences and I felt I might be fooling myself.

It's a very hard issue on which to design a properly controlled experiment.

I'd say impossible to test in a properly controlled way, but if you have both types lying around, do compare them again, focusing on the sensation of upfront sweetness in the one with flared lips v. the one without them.
 
originally posted by mark e:
originally posted by Tom Blach:
for most wines the Riedel Vinum is better

I assume you don't mean the Vinum series burgundy glass is better for most wines. If not, which glass do you mean?

Basically, I have stopped using most of our expensive glassware and am quite happy with the Jancis Robinson glass for most wines on most days.

I'm liking the Jancis glass that Jayson left at my place. Since there is only one (Louisa decided to throw the other) it's first come, first served with that glass in our house. I really like it as a glass when we're going to have white and red but we generally use Zalto Bordeaux stems for everything unless it is just a Champagne and white sort of night then we'll use Riedel Sangiovese glasses. I think I might eventually replace those Riedel Sangiovese with the Jancis. The Zalto Burgundy are great for about 3% of wines but annoying for everything else.

The one glass I think had some utility but doesn't seem to be made anymore (and all mine are broken) was the Riedel Syrah glass.
 
originally posted by VLM: The one glass I think had some utility but doesn't seem to be made anymore (and all mine are broken) was the Riedel Syrah glass.

Nathan, the versatility of that glass made it a favorite of mine also. I wonder why they might have discontinued it.

. . . . Pete
 
originally posted by VLM:
originally posted by mark e:
originally posted by Tom Blach:
for most wines the Riedel Vinum is better

I assume you don't mean the Vinum series burgundy glass is better for most wines. If not, which glass do you mean?

Basically, I have stopped using most of our expensive glassware and am quite happy with the Jancis Robinson glass for most wines on most days.

I'm liking the Jancis glass that Jayson left at my place. Since there is only one (Louisa decided to throw the other) it's first come, first served with that glass in our house. I really like it as a glass when we're going to have white and red but we generally use Zalto Bordeaux stems for everything unless it is just a Champagne and white sort of night then we'll use Riedel Sangiovese glasses. I think I might eventually replace those Riedel Sangiovese with the Jancis. The Zalto Burgundy are great for about 3% of wines but annoying for everything else.

The one glass I think had some utility but doesn't seem to be made anymore (and all mine are broken) was the Riedel Syrah glass.

I did find some utility as well, given that perhaps 25% of the reds we drank in the US consisted of one vintage or another of Eric's Brézèmes, but not too many other wines tasted great in it other than N. Rhône reds. The Riedel Vinum Syrah glass is still available in Europe (assuming that is the series you mean). Yeah, the Jancis glass seems to be quite versatile, certainly more than the Riedel Vinum Chianti (Sangiovese) glass.
 
originally posted by mark e:
originally posted by Tom Blach:
for most wines the Riedel Vinum is better

I assume you don't mean the Vinum series burgundy glass is better for most wines. If not, which glass do you mean?

Basically, I have stopped using most of our expensive glassware and am quite happy with the Jancis Robinson glass for most wines on most days.

Most burgundies, I meant.
 
originally posted by mark e:
originally posted by VLM:
originally posted by mark e:
originally posted by Tom Blach:
for most wines the Riedel Vinum is better

I assume you don't mean the Vinum series burgundy glass is better for most wines. If not, which glass do you mean?

Basically, I have stopped using most of our expensive glassware and am quite happy with the Jancis Robinson glass for most wines on most days.

I'm liking the Jancis glass that Jayson left at my place. Since there is only one (Louisa decided to throw the other) it's first come, first served with that glass in our house. I really like it as a glass when we're going to have white and red but we generally use Zalto Bordeaux stems for everything unless it is just a Champagne and white sort of night then we'll use Riedel Sangiovese glasses. I think I might eventually replace those Riedel Sangiovese with the Jancis. The Zalto Burgundy are great for about 3% of wines but annoying for everything else.

The one glass I think had some utility but doesn't seem to be made anymore (and all mine are broken) was the Riedel Syrah glass.

I did find some utility as well, given that perhaps 25% of the reds we drank in the US consisted of one vintage or another of Eric's Brézèmes, but not too many other wines tasted great in it other than N. Rhône reds. The Riedel Vinum Syrah glass is still available in Europe (assuming that is the series you mean). Yeah, the Jancis glass seems to be quite versatile, certainly more than the Riedel Vinum Chianti (Sangiovese) glass.

I always found the Chianti/Riesling glass great for Riesling, and some other aromatic whites and Champagne depending on the wine, but not most reds. I have a couple I use for Riesling and use for comparison to GGG for Riesling.

I’m so happy the Jancis glass turned into a great unintentional gift to gracious host VLM. Does it count as a gift if I didn’t intend to give it until I was too lazy to drive an extra 30-45 minutes to pick it up?
 
originally posted by Jayson Cohen:
originally posted by mark e:
originally posted by VLM:
originally posted by mark e:
originally posted by Tom Blach:
for most wines the Riedel Vinum is better

I assume you don't mean the Vinum series burgundy glass is better for most wines. If not, which glass do you mean?

Basically, I have stopped using most of our expensive glassware and am quite happy with the Jancis Robinson glass for most wines on most days.

I'm liking the Jancis glass that Jayson left at my place. Since there is only one (Louisa decided to throw the other) it's first come, first served with that glass in our house. I really like it as a glass when we're going to have white and red but we generally use Zalto Bordeaux stems for everything unless it is just a Champagne and white sort of night then we'll use Riedel Sangiovese glasses. I think I might eventually replace those Riedel Sangiovese with the Jancis. The Zalto Burgundy are great for about 3% of wines but annoying for everything else.

The one glass I think had some utility but doesn't seem to be made anymore (and all mine are broken) was the Riedel Syrah glass.

I did find some utility as well, given that perhaps 25% of the reds we drank in the US consisted of one vintage or another of Eric's Brézèmes, but not too many other wines tasted great in it other than N. Rhône reds. The Riedel Vinum Syrah glass is still available in Europe (assuming that is the series you mean). Yeah, the Jancis glass seems to be quite versatile, certainly more than the Riedel Vinum Chianti (Sangiovese) glass.

I always found the Chianti/Riesling glass great for Riesling, and some other aromatic whites and Champagne depending on the wine, but not most reds. I have a couple I use for Riesling and use for comparison to GGG for Riesling.

I’m so happy the Jancis glass turned into a great unintentional gift to gracious host VLM. Does it count as a gift if I didn’t intend to give it until I was too lazy to drive an extra 30-45 minutes to pick it up?

I find that the Sangiovese/Riesling does great with Champagne. Agree, not with most reds, though I sometimes like a smaller glass with old wines based Bordeaux varieties.

I absolutely consider it a gift. I was worried about having to drive to LouElla to buy a replacement after Louisa smashed the other one. That little monkey is an animal.
 
Back
Top