Northern Rhone Syrah
- Burgundy Bowl
- Cabernet Glass
0 voters
I have always simply defaulted to a Burgundy bowl, but am starting to think that a tall glass might be better.
Your thoughts please.
Dan Kravitz
Flawed poll! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.) I’m really fond of Riedel’s Vinum Syrah glass.
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I’ve always gone with Bordeaux stemware, but I think the best answer is probably that it depends on the style of the particular wine/producer, since Syrah can take on such different forms. Eg Syrah from further south (eg Cornas) in a warmer vintage with a lot of oak treatment will present differently from that of a more northern appellation (eg Cote Rotie) in a cooler vintage made in a more elegant style.
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Zalto Bordeaux is my default for Syrah.
I always use a Riedel vinum syrah glass for syrah dominant wines but I suppose a cab/Bordeaux glass would work too. Can’t wait till my Grassl 1855s arrive.
I used to use Vinum Syrah stems for Syrah and also for Cabernet. Predictably, Georg Riedel claims the Bordeaux glass is a horrible choice for Syrah, I think either is fine. I think Syrah is a bit much for a Burgundy glass with the large bowl.
-Al
As usual, I’ll claim it matters little. Most stemware, regardless of shape, has more or less the same ratio of volume to liquid surface area, when filled appropriately. Not to mention that it changes, depending on how high you pour, and over the course of drinking a glass. The entire discussion of glass shape is way overblown, in this drinker’s opinion. Drink out of a glass that makes you happy.
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A friend once gave me four Williams Sonoma Riedel Cabernet glasses. Except one was actually a Syrah glass. When they picked them out they couldn’t tell the difference.
I tend to use my Grassl 1855. Although, for some lighter California Rhône’s I will use Grassl Cru.
The only Rhone wines I might consider a burgundy glass for are Grenache dominant, which means S. Rhone, nor N. Rhone.
I actually really like N Rhône reds in Grassl Liberte and GGG. Cali Syrahs I tend to use Bordeaux glasses.
This is pretty close to my opinion, too.
I think the Riedel Vinum Bordeaux glass is bad for Syrah. I also think it’s bad for Bordeaux. However, I think the Riedel Ouverture red is excellent for Syrah – I would love to find a handblown glass with this shape. In addition to the Riedel Ouverture red, I like the Grassl 1855 for Syrah.
Finally, I 100% agree that a Burgundy bowl doesn’t work with Syrah — too much alc. presence on the Nose for my preferences.
I have a Dirty & Rowdy Mourvedre in a Glassvin Obsession stem right now, and think it works excellently. Of course, D&R Mourvedres aren’t exactly your typical Mourvedre, either …
Grassl Liberte is first choice. 2nd choice would be the 1855, but I often find that the nose gets ‘lost’ or diminished in that one.
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I always use Zalto Bordeaux/Spiegelau Definition Bordeaux (They are almost one to one).
Riedel Old World Syrah (also my go-to glass for Southern Rhone, Rioja, and nebbiolos and sangiovese-dominant wines).
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Zalto Universal for me for almost everything nowadays, I just love this glass. Or rather I love the first batch of this glass that I bought - one broke so I just replaced it with a new one that seems considerably heavier than the old ones. I wonder if this has happened to others here.
While I use Grassl 1856 or Zalto Bordeaux for Syrahs I agree that Zalto Universal is just so nice and beautiful that I would use it for everything!
As others have said, Vinum Syrah for N.Rhone. I tend to use them for the little bit of Brdx/Cab we drink as well as I like the slightly taller profile. So while I have lots, I only use my cab glasses for Chianti.
I use the Vinum Syrah or Vinum burg glasses for S. rhone wines. Sometimes I prefer one over the other, but I’m not sure there’s any rhyme or reason (such as Grenache v. Syrah %'s).
What glass do you like for Bordeaux? I’ve got a bunch of Riedel vinum bdx glass and I’d like to compare it with something else. Gracias.