Anyone still prefer Riedel’s Sommeliers series?

Rich_Brown · January 12, 2021, 10:12pm

Doing some serious testing currently (since Nov) and so far, the SENSORY, seems to be the clear winner. If would have to score it on a 1-10 scale, it would be a straight 10. The Zaltos are usually between 6 & 8 pts (a tad less elegant and harmonious, a bit riper, but equally expressive), the Grassls would be around 4-6 pts (less expressive, less balanced, more acidic and less a => could work well for Napa but not tested yet) and clearly weakest (so far in all 7 tests) would be the Gabriel Gold (at 2-3 pts, least expressive, least balanced).

But it‘s faaaar to premature to draw final conclusions (so far only tasted some younger white & red Burg and younger Bdx).

Very interesting! Please keep us updated on your findings.

I have not tried the SENSORY glasses (starting to think I need to), but I’m surprised by the GG vs. Zalto as I’ve generally found the opposite (I own both). I will say that I drink very little/no burgundy, so take that into account.

I have the sensory and I don’t like it. The opening is too big and the nose gets to airy. The grassl presents the bouquet with more focus. When I do side by side comparisons, I always end up dumping the juice in the sensory into the grassl.

Thanks Jordan. That’s what has kept me from buying them thus far- they look a little too large, especially at the opening. And they’re not cheap.

Al_Osterheld · January 12, 2021, 10:29pm

The truth is that you not only need a different glass for each variety and style, but also tailored to the size of your head and nose.

-Al

Andy_Sc · January 13, 2021, 6:49am

Doing some serious testing currently (since Nov) and so far, the SENSORY, seems to be the clear winner. If would have to score it on a 1-10 scale, it would be a straight 10. The Zaltos are usually between 6 & 8 pts (a tad less elegant and harmonious, a bit riper, but equally expressive), the Grassls would be around 4-6 pts (less expressive, less balanced, more acidic and less a => could work well for Napa but not tested yet) and clearly weakest (so far in all 7 tests) would be the Gabriel Gold (at 2-3 pts, least expressive, least balanced).

But it‘s faaaar to premature to draw final conclusions (so far only tasted some younger white & red Burg and younger Bdx).

Very interesting! Please keep us updated on your findings.

I have not tried the SENSORY glasses (starting to think I need to), but I’m surprised by the GG vs. Zalto as I’ve generally found the opposite (I own both). I will say that I drink very little/no burgundy, so take that into account.

Will do but the test will continue for many more months (and regions and age brackets). We are the two of us and so far we idependently got to the same results. But so far the sample size is too small to really draw any conclusions.

An add-on to my comments above about Grassl/Gabriel being less expressive: for some wines we tested, they were almost equally expressive but never as round and balanced in their expressivness, putting the focus on one or the other element (usually not fruit but acidity or herbal/minerality aromas).

jordan_jacobs · January 13, 2021, 7:23am

Doing some serious testing currently (since Nov) and so far, the SENSORY, seems to be the clear winner. If would have to score it on a 1-10 scale, it would be a straight 10. The Zaltos are usually between 6 & 8 pts (a tad less elegant and harmonious, a bit riper, but equally expressive), the Grassls would be around 4-6 pts (less expressive, less balanced, more acidic and less a => could work well for Napa but not tested yet) and clearly weakest (so far in all 7 tests) would be the Gabriel Gold (at 2-3 pts, least expressive, least balanced).

But it‘s faaaar to premature to draw final conclusions (so far only tasted some younger white & red Burg and younger Bdx).

Very interesting! Please keep us updated on your findings.

I have not tried the SENSORY glasses (starting to think I need to), but I’m surprised by the GG vs. Zalto as I’ve generally found the opposite (I own both). I will say that I drink very little/no burgundy, so take that into account.

Will do but the test will continue for many more months (and regions and age brackets). We are the two of us and so far we idependently got to the same results. But so far the sample size is too small to really draw any conclusions.

An add-on to my comments above about Grassl/Gabriel being less expressive: for some wines we tested, they were almost equally expressive but never as round and balanced in their expressivness, putting the focus on one or the other element (usually not fruit but acidity or herbal/minerality aromas).

Now having tried all these glasses I find (so far of course) that the grassl and the zalto BDX are at the top in terms of balance and lacking nothing on the nose.

Tom_G_l_a_s_g_o_w · January 13, 2021, 9:49am

Seem delicate as well (breakable).

Andy_Sc · January 13, 2021, 10:49am

Sure, I wouldn’t be able to disprove you just yet. As said, my sample size is too small. We do the test at home from time to time and it will need much more than just a few wines to come to a solid conclusion. In addition, every person is different, with different sense and preferences, which complicates the translation of any findings.

After the 7 tests I’m quite surprise to find the Sensory behing ahead as it was not on my list initially (…until I’ve read that William Kelley started only using the Sensory for all wines).