I have tried this at home with different stems and I agree with Marcus on this. I also think there is a noticeable difference in how enjoyable the wine is when tasted from different shaped glasses which I think was the OP’s point. There are certain glass shapes that accentuate high alcohol wines negatively and some that accentuate the fruitiness of specific varietals that seems to come from my taste buds at the front of my tongue. I may be wrong, but I am having a really good time being wrong.
I’m thankful for all the folks here who are so certain of themselves. It provides a ton of free entertainment!
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I agree that the shape of the vessel impacts the way the wine is perceived, particularly through the nostrils but also as it enters the mouth. But the brunt of the taste is to be found via the retronasal pathway. In wine tasting I especially find brett this way when it is very subtle. I also get the most complex fan of flavors out of liqueurs like amaro and Chartreuse on the very slow exhale. So, while a nice glass definitely enhances the experience, the most detailed tasting comes after the glass is having an impact.
Lest I be accused of just being some haggard surfer dude that is hyperbolically certain of myself, here’s another paper on the matter that is gear a little more towards the layman than my previous link.
The Flow of Flavor: How Exhaling While Eating Affects Smell and Taste – Yale Scientific Magazine.
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