Riedel Vinum Extreme 4-Piece Wine Tasting Set

Though glasses shaped and sized for different types of wine seem commonplace today, when Riedel introduced this idea in 1961 it was a revolutionary concept. Since then Riedel has continued fine-tuning glasses to bring out the best characteristics in wines and spirits. Varying bowl shapes and sizes affect the position of the head when sipping and where wine first contacts the tongue's taste zones. Thus, the four glasses in this set are ideal for tasting seven varietals: cabernet sauvignon/merlot (9-3/4 inches high, holds 30-3/8 ounces); pinot noir/nebbiolo (9-1/2 inches, 29-5/8 ounces); riesling/sauvignon blanc (9-1/2 inches, 16-7/8 ounces); and chardonnay (9-1/8 inches, 27-1/2 ounces). Riedel crystal is used by fine restaurants all over the world and thus must stand up to frequent trips through a dishwasher. But because lead crystal has a soft, coarse surface to convey intense aromas, Riedel recommends the glasses be hand washed. --Fred Brack

I tried a Zin in all 4 plus my old "normal glass". In all but the Zin/Sauvigan blanc glass, it was a nasty bunch of tannin. In the right glass I couldn't believe I was drinking the same wine: it was bursting with fruit and flower, and no tannin. Hard to belive; but true.

However these are not (at least to my eye) pretty glasses. They are way too large (use a ruler at home folks), and have a odd/ugly angular bend to them. However, several other reviewers like them. I think the key would be to get out a ruler and see if you wanna glass this big. I do have a huge (i.e. >10') dining table, and they still dominate the table. Face it: few wine glasses are a foot tall. And most do nothing for the wine flavor. cavaet emptor, but I -do- take flavor over looks :-)

I have -NOT- tried Ridels' smaller more rounded versions of these. Maybe they work as well, maybe not. The extreme in the name might mean extemerly startiling in effect on flavor, or appearance, either way I do like these...

-jj


Does the glass really make a difference?   January 2, 2002
 9 out of 10 found this review helpful

It does! I was amazed. We bought two sets, one for me and one for my husband. A reisling in the correct glass was more falvorful, the cabernet had more black cherry essence. For a true wine lover, novice or experienced, this is an excellent purchase!!!