Well Murray, finally did a taste test of a Riedel Bordeaux glass against the Esse Design copies. Riedel costs $35+, Esse Design around $8 (or less on discount).
Compared the two on a 1990 Mildara Coonawarra Cabernet, and they were very similar on the nose (maybe Riedel marginally better) and pretty well identical on the palate.
The Esse Design has some minor flaws in construction when held up to a strong light in comparison to the Riedel, but these do not affect the glass's functionality. The box says they are dishwasher safe although I don't think I would be game to try.
By the way, the 1990 Mildara is now on the downhill run and should be drunk within 12 months as the acid is poking out more than it was two years ago.
regards
Chris
Riedel versus copies
Hi Chris,
Just my 2 cents worth...
On Murray's recommendation about 2 years ago, I bought the Esse Design red glasses and flutes. They are dishwasher safe but mine are starting to "haze up" a little compared to the Spiegelaus which have always been hand washed. Perhaps its the dishwasher detergent and hotter water
Please note that I'm completely happy with my Esses (hell, I bought them on special when they were 30% off) and I do not profit from recommending or comparing them with Spielelau glassware.
Cheers,
Vickie
box says they are dishwasher safe although I don't think I would be game to try.
Just my 2 cents worth...
On Murray's recommendation about 2 years ago, I bought the Esse Design red glasses and flutes. They are dishwasher safe but mine are starting to "haze up" a little compared to the Spiegelaus which have always been hand washed. Perhaps its the dishwasher detergent and hotter water
Please note that I'm completely happy with my Esses (hell, I bought them on special when they were 30% off) and I do not profit from recommending or comparing them with Spielelau glassware.
Cheers,
Vickie
Vickie
I seem to recall hazing in glasses washed in a dishwasher is a sign that the glasses have lead in them (as in lead crystal).
The Speiglau Bordeaux look good too - touch dearer than the Esse's at around $12 each.
I bought some Speiglau Burgundy glasses (look a bit like an extreme Riedel Burgundy glass) and I could not get much nose out of any pinot I tried in them - tried them in my wine group when we had a Burgundy tasting with the same result - weird and would not recommend them.
regards
Chris
I seem to recall hazing in glasses washed in a dishwasher is a sign that the glasses have lead in them (as in lead crystal).
The Speiglau Bordeaux look good too - touch dearer than the Esse's at around $12 each.
I bought some Speiglau Burgundy glasses (look a bit like an extreme Riedel Burgundy glass) and I could not get much nose out of any pinot I tried in them - tried them in my wine group when we had a Burgundy tasting with the same result - weird and would not recommend them.
regards
Chris
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Muscat Mike
- Posts: 425
- Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2003 10:05 pm
- Location: Sydney - North West.
Glassware.
box says they are dishwasher safe although I don't think I would be game to try.
I have been using Speigelaus at home for a couple of years and put them in the dishwasher. I have found that they come out squeeky clean everytime and have not broken one. I keep using the two Shiraz glasses at the front and they each get washed several times a week. I always wash at the high temperature which also dries them properly.
MM.
Delighted to see good wine tasted from good glassware. 
Chris,
I agree there's a distinct difference in build quality between the Riedels and Esse Designs, particularly in the stem, whihc I guess is the part of the compromise on price. I haven't compared either to the Speigelaus.
I've heard of the hazing on machine washed glasses put can't comment on the cause. Having said that my plain glass ISO's are no constant rotation through the dishwasher and are still clean.
Whenever I've done the big glasses through the dishwasher I use a minimal amount of detergent as I have sometime encountered an aroma residue on glassware - if you ever see me smelling an empty glass, that's why.
Chris,
I agree there's a distinct difference in build quality between the Riedels and Esse Designs, particularly in the stem, whihc I guess is the part of the compromise on price. I haven't compared either to the Speigelaus.
I've heard of the hazing on machine washed glasses put can't comment on the cause. Having said that my plain glass ISO's are no constant rotation through the dishwasher and are still clean.
Whenever I've done the big glasses through the dishwasher I use a minimal amount of detergent as I have sometime encountered an aroma residue on glassware - if you ever see me smelling an empty glass, that's why.
Murray Almond
ChrisH wrote:...Speigelau Burgundy (look a bit like an extreme Riedel Burgundy glass) and I could not get much nose out of any pinot I tried in them - tried them in my wine group when we had a Burgundy tasting with the same result - weird and would not recommend them.
I've got a couple of the Riedel Extreme glasses used them for an 'extreme wine styles' tasting. I found that for the bigger style wines they accentuated the oak and alcohol too much.
This is fine if you like that sort of thing, but I returned to the more classical bowl shapes.
Murray Almond
Late comer to this thread, but my 2c:
I own both Esse's and Spiegelau Bordeaux glasses, and use Riedel's regularly elsewhere. Clearly the Riedel is the best quality glass, most noticable differences are in the stem thickness and evenness of shape. I've found the Esse's arent as fine as the Spiegelaus at the rim, but I've found the practical difference is small, and to my average palate doesnt affect taste. I've mixed them up in a tasting, and the participants didnt notice.
I do handwash, mainly because the glasses are large and difficult to fit in our dishwasher. We do use the dishwasher occasionally: none of the glasses have started to haze, and the full cycle of our AEG washes and dries the glasses quite well.
cheers
Andrew
I own both Esse's and Spiegelau Bordeaux glasses, and use Riedel's regularly elsewhere. Clearly the Riedel is the best quality glass, most noticable differences are in the stem thickness and evenness of shape. I've found the Esse's arent as fine as the Spiegelaus at the rim, but I've found the practical difference is small, and to my average palate doesnt affect taste. I've mixed them up in a tasting, and the participants didnt notice.
I do handwash, mainly because the glasses are large and difficult to fit in our dishwasher. We do use the dishwasher occasionally: none of the glasses have started to haze, and the full cycle of our AEG washes and dries the glasses quite well.
cheers
Andrew
ChrisH wrote:I bought some Speiglau Burgundy glasses (look a bit like an extreme Riedel Burgundy glass) and I could not get much nose out of any pinot I tried in them - tried them in my wine group when we had a Burgundy tasting with the same result - weird and would not recommend them.
Chris
Chris - you must be a mind reader!
I own some Speigelau Vino Grande Bordeauxs (excellent) and was thinking of buying the equivalent Burgundy glasses...now I'm thinking twice based on your's and Murray's comments.
Incidently, what glasses do you use for pinot?
Cheers,
Vickie
I'm no chemist, but the high ph of machine detergents (more so than in-the-sink type dishwashing liquid) will have a deleterious effect on crystal over time. It'll even strip gold plate off your grandparent's old crockery (as we eventually discovered in my parent's house).
Although I've not seen 'Esse', I have seen 'Oberglass' and they again seem very close to Vinum Bordeaux and Chardonnay glasses. And, they're under $10 each. It all makes me wonder why so many people who drink wine (if not with quite the same level of obsession as us) don't have better glasses at home.
It also amazes me that the super-expensive names - the Waterfords, Stuarts of this world - make such wine-unfriendly glasses, and yet still seem to shift them at $100 each, or whatever. About 6 years ago, my aunt had a few of the family around to dinner. She produced a bottle from my late uncle's cellar (he owned a bottle-shop prior to his death in 1984) hoping it would still be OK to drink. <b>1982 Wynns John Riddoch Cabernet!</b>. My cousin made a botched job of getting the cork out, and then it was poured into very elegant, no doubt expensive and ancient, cut-cystal glasses, which I would call thimbles! They barely held 100ml of wine I reckon. No swirling here. I just kept thinking - if I 'd only known we'd be drinking this kind of wine, I'd have offered to bring glasses...!
cheers,
Graeme
Although I've not seen 'Esse', I have seen 'Oberglass' and they again seem very close to Vinum Bordeaux and Chardonnay glasses. And, they're under $10 each. It all makes me wonder why so many people who drink wine (if not with quite the same level of obsession as us) don't have better glasses at home.
It also amazes me that the super-expensive names - the Waterfords, Stuarts of this world - make such wine-unfriendly glasses, and yet still seem to shift them at $100 each, or whatever. About 6 years ago, my aunt had a few of the family around to dinner. She produced a bottle from my late uncle's cellar (he owned a bottle-shop prior to his death in 1984) hoping it would still be OK to drink. <b>1982 Wynns John Riddoch Cabernet!</b>. My cousin made a botched job of getting the cork out, and then it was poured into very elegant, no doubt expensive and ancient, cut-cystal glasses, which I would call thimbles! They barely held 100ml of wine I reckon. No swirling here. I just kept thinking - if I 'd only known we'd be drinking this kind of wine, I'd have offered to bring glasses...!
cheers,
Graeme
Hello,
I have 6 or so different varieties of Riedel and also have 8 glasses of the Speigelau Authentis Bordeaux. After reading a posting from the Red Bigot last week, I popped into Grace Bros to have a look at the Esse Red (Bordeaux). They were 30% off $44 for 6 glasses (=$5.13 per glass from $7.33). Anyway, although the shape looked fine, I did not consider buying any due to the thinkness of the lip. It was cut and not rolled (which is good), unlike the crappy ISOs, but the lip was quite thick and for my money, I prefer paying the extra for the Speigelau Authentis ($10 per glass for 4).
On the topic, buying Riedels is definitely a personal choice and you won't find me saying that they are good value for money despite my little range.
Kind regards,
Adair.
I have 6 or so different varieties of Riedel and also have 8 glasses of the Speigelau Authentis Bordeaux. After reading a posting from the Red Bigot last week, I popped into Grace Bros to have a look at the Esse Red (Bordeaux). They were 30% off $44 for 6 glasses (=$5.13 per glass from $7.33). Anyway, although the shape looked fine, I did not consider buying any due to the thinkness of the lip. It was cut and not rolled (which is good), unlike the crappy ISOs, but the lip was quite thick and for my money, I prefer paying the extra for the Speigelau Authentis ($10 per glass for 4).
On the topic, buying Riedels is definitely a personal choice and you won't find me saying that they are good value for money despite my little range.
Kind regards,
Adair.
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BetterRedThanDead2
Also try the Schwott Zweisel's
After breaking more Reidel's than I'd care to admit (always when washing them), I also purchased a number of Schwott Zweisel which are very similar in shape, but a fraction larger. In reality I'd doubt if anyone could really tell much difference in either smell or taste between the two, after comparing them for several years now.
The Schwott Zweisels also sell for about $8 each (TableTop & Kitchen here in SA) and seem a bit stronger in the stem than the Reidels.
The Schwott Zweisels also sell for about $8 each (TableTop & Kitchen here in SA) and seem a bit stronger in the stem than the Reidels.