Review of Riedel Sommeliers Montrachet/Chardonnay, Single Stem

Some of the reviews of various Riedel Sommeliers series wine glasses are correct in commenting on their relative fragility, but the criticism isn't really deserved.First, these are handblown crystal--no two are alike, and yes,this does mean some glasses may be even thinner than others. And the Riedel Montrachet glasses are probably their thinnest. But "thinness" in a wine glass is a virtue and, for that matter, much more difficult and expensive to make than a thick glass.I won't take up your time with a long explanation here of why thinness is an essential quality in a wineglass, but the short of it is that it makes the wine taste better!The Riedel company did at one time have a very nice essay on the subject--it's probably still available on their website and it's worth reading.

Meanwhile, let me say this:Bad things happen in shipment, true, but the last glasses I ordered from Amazon came in beautiful Riedel shipping tubes that were, themselves, packed within an Amazon shipping box.So I think both Riedel and Amazon are doing their best with a fragile product.As to breakage by guests, which one critic commented upon: serve them with Riedel Vinum series or other less expensive glasses: if they can break a Sommeliers series glass by holding it, trust me, they'll never know the difference. Regarding washing: NEVER wash these glasses in a dishwasher (instant exploding crystal) and ALWAYS hold the glass when you're washing it by cupping the bowl lightly in your hand; avoid holding it by the stem.Be especially careful drying the glasses: again, don't twirl the glass by the stem (everyone who buys Riedel must do this once before we learn), and don't stuff the towel into the bowl--the result will be that the thinnest part of the glass, by design, which is the lip, will simply crumple.

This probably sounds dire and discouraging, but I've had Riedels now for about 20 years and we use them every day.I think in those 20 years we've broken 4 glasses.In my opinion, the taste superiority of a Riedel glass fully justifies the expense

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Product Description:
The creme de la creme of luxury stems. The Riedel Sommeliers wine glass line is the top-of-the-line series of stemware from the legendary Riedel. Wine experts agree that glassware makes a profound difference on how wines taste. Riedel Sommeliers wine glasses are the benchmark and the most successful series of hand-made glasses in the world. Each Sommeliers wine glass is individually made of 24% lead crystal: the wine glass bowls are mouth-blown into a mould, the stem and base are handcrafted using ancient glass-making methods. Recommend to hand wash.The Riedel Sommeliers Montrachet / White Burgundy Wine Glass was designed for complex and dense white wines with high levels of alcohol and moderate acidity. The size of the bowl allows space for the rich bouquet to develop its range of aromas, while minimizing the risk of it becoming over concentrated. Recommended for: Burgundy (white), Chardonnay, Corton-Charlemagne, Meursault, Montrachet, Pouilly-Fuissé, St. Aubin.Size: 7-7/8"H, 17-5/8 oz. Riedel Model # 4400/7

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Review of Riedel Sommeliers Burgundy Grand Cru, Single Stem

Contrary to popular belief- we really "taste" with our noses and not with our tongues.Tasting involves the tongue to a very minor extent (taste buds only detect sweet, sour, bitter, and salty).All the other favors or sensations are detected by the nose--the only time most people notice this is when they have a bad cold and stuffy nose--then nothing "taste" good.
Therefore- you want a wine glass that can let the aroma linger, so you can get a good whiff.
In addition the thickness and curvature of the glass somehow alters your "taste" ... I'm not sure why ... but I think many people would agree that some drinks taste better out of the bottle under certain situations...like soda or beer on a hot day.
Therefore- you want a wine glass that is thin and has a curvature that you like.Unfortunately, a thin handsome wine glass is also easy to break.I have already broken a few...one an expensive Riedel Champagne glass.
In conclusion: This is my favorite wine glass for good red aromatic wines.

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Product Description:
First developed in 1973 by Claus Riedel and the Association of Italian Sommeliers, this collection consisted of 10 sizes. Since that time new wines and wine-producing regions have taken the world by storm. So the series was developed further by Claus's son Georg, into an all-embracing state of the art wine glass collection. Praised in 1991 by Robert Parker Jr. publisher of The Wine Advocate, as "the finest glasses for both technical and hedonistic purposes are those made by Riedel. The effect of these glasses on fine wine is profound. I cannot emphasize enough what a difference they make." Thanks to world demand, Sommeliers is now the wineglass benchmark and the most successful series of hand-made glasses in the world. Each glass is individually made: the upper parts are blown into a mould, the stem and base are hand-crafted using methods developed at the time of Christ's birth. Our glass-makers invest their talent, know-how and meticulous craftsmanship in making glasses of the impeccable quality our customers expect.

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