No other glass in the Sommeliers line has a bowl this large. It's shaped for Pinot Noir from Burgundy, where the wine's delicate, earthy aromas need every bit of space they can get.
The Expert's Description
The Riedel Sommeliers Burgundy Grand Cru 4400/16 is a hand-blown wine glass from the Austrian glassmaker Riedel's Sommeliers line, made from crystal glass. With its large, balloon-shaped bowl, this is the most demanding glass to hand-blow in the entire Sommeliers line – the bigger the glass, the harder it is to keep the weight and thickness even throughout the process. The shape is built for Pinot Noir from Burgundy, where the many, complex layers of aroma need all the space a Grand Cru bowl can offer, and you'll find more of the wines the glass suits in our range of Red Wine.
Design & Material
The large, balloon-shaped bowl is the most demanding shape to hand-blow in the whole Sommeliers line, because the molten glass has to be stretched across a large area while keeping the temperature and thickness even. The narrowed opening at the top gathers Pinot Noir's delicate aromas before they reach the nose.
Use & Recommendation
The glass is built for Pinot Noir from Burgundy, but also works for other light to medium-bodied red wines with a complex aroma profile. Always wash by hand – a dishwasher's temperature swings can damage the thin, hand-blown crystal over time.
Specifications
Name: Riedel Sommeliers Burgundy Grand Cru 4400/16 - 1 pc.
Producer/Brand: Riedel
Collection/Series: Sommeliers
Country: Austria
Material: Crystal Glass
Production Method: Hand-blown
Capacity/Volume: 105 cl
Dimensions: Height 248 mm
Quantity per Set/Pack: 1 pc.
Care: Hand Wash Recommended
Investment Potential
The glass carries a Medium investment potential, mainly because it's the most demanding glass to hand-blow in the entire Sommeliers line. The large bowl places extreme demands on the glassblower's precision, making each piece a feat of craftsmanship that can't be mass-produced the way Riedel's machine-made lines are.
Did You Know?
When Robert Parker set out to describe Riedel's glasses, he used the words 'I cannot recommend strongly enough that you use these glasses' – a comment often quoted in connection with large, hand-blown Grand Cru glasses like this one.
See our full range of Riedel Glass.
