Riedel vs Zalto – Burgundy stemware battle – round 1

First round of the Burgundy stemware battle between Riedel Vinum, Pinot Noir and the challenger Zalto Burgundy

22/1/2014 – 20:15 CET – Root Day
Wine: Philippe Pacalet,Chambolle Musigny 2011

Bouquet:

Riedel Vinum, Pinot Noir … rather deep red berry fruit notes of raspberries, plum and strawberries … slightly stewed and showing a slight reduction. Nice earthy minrality in the background. Seems richer and sweeter than the Zaltos. The slightly stewed notes disappear after some time.

Zalto Burgundy… More defined redberry fruit with a better focus on the individual aromas … not stewed but with a slight dusty element. Notes of red berries, forest strawberries, cherries, cherry stones and gooseberries with a more detailed stony minerality underneath. Seems more ready from the get-go … 

Palate:

Riedel Vinum, Pinot Noir… Lovely rich redberry fruit, nice body and length ….. nice minerality in the finish and a crisp acidity in the final. Slightly more volume – focus on body and sweet flavors. Lacking a bit definition and focus in the finish.

Zalto Burgundy … The palate is also perceived differently … Fine crisp redberry fruit …. more focus on details … less apparant volume. Seems less sweet – more focused and structured. The wine feels more crystaline and clear with a more airy feel in the finish.

It’s important to note that the perception of the palate could well be influenced by the bouquet. If the bouquet is different then the sensatory impressions in the bouquet could well be perceived differently.

Result round 1:

Quite a difference … the trusted Riedels is really loosing out on refinement and detail. The Riedels are showing more body and sweetness … and the wine appear less stuctured than from the less forgiving Zaltos. In my view the more detailed and pure expression make the Zalto a clear winner in this round. The volume and pleasent sweet appearance from the Riedels come at to high a price in this case.

Riedel – Zalto: 0 – 1

Related articles

• The Riedel/Grassl and Zalto partnership – March 2022
  “I, Winehog, take thee, Riedel/Zalto/Grassl, to be my wedded stemware, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health … “ Be that as it may, we do tend to update our preferences, and Grassl is new in my line-up. This is (for some) ...
• The Riedel and Zalto partnership – August 2019
  “I, Winehog, take thee, Riedel/Zalto, to be my wedded stemware, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God’s holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge thee my faith.” This is ...
• Riedel vs Zalto – Stemware battle … and the winner is ..
  I have followed the Zalto stemware over quite some time now, but never got around to making a more formal test of these lightweight beauties. I was therefore quite exited when the danish importer of Zalto, Ved Stranden 10 gave me the opportunity to test the Zalto Burgundy glasses. I must say it has been an ...
• Riedel vs Zalto – Burgundy stemware battle – round 3
  Third round of the Burgundy stemware battle between Riedel Vinum, Pinot Noir and the challenger Zalto Burgundy 24/1/2014 – 21:15 CET – Flower DayWine: Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair, Vosne-Romanee La Colombiere 2011 Bouquet Riedel Vinum, Pinot Noir … lovely fruity bouquet with red and dark berry fruit .. Vosne spices and a quite ample impression of oak. Zalto Burgundy… ...
• Riedel vs Zalto – Burgundy stemware battle round 2 – Old Burgs
  Second round of the Burgundy stemware battle between Riedel Vinum, Pinot Noir and the challenger Zalto Burgundy 25/1/2014 – 20:30 CET – Flower DayWine: Domaine Camus, Mazoyeres Chambertin 1978 Bouquet Riedel Vinum, Pinot Noir … expressive nose, rich slightly fragile – with a nice red berry fruit infused with notes of orange/orange zest and a lovely earthy impression ...