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 Day
Wine: 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… more focused and detailed nose …. with a more discrete impression of the oak. The oak seem more refined and pure. The general impression is more tight and refined …. and with clear and direct impression of the 2011 fruit….

Palate

Riedel Vinum, Pinot Noir… Lovely fruit quite expressive and pure with a good support of oak. Quite rich for the level.
Zalto Burgundy … Perceived slightly more airy and focused … and with a little less richness … Oak seem purer and slightly drier in the expression. The finish is perceived a bit more airy and transparent with the acidity slightly more forward. Not a big difference though.

Again – 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.

Round three conclusion

The difference is noticeable and clear. The Zalto glass is more analytical, and is pulling out more detail in the wine. The oak is present in both wines … but quite differently. The Riedels show more rich and slightly dominant oak – while the Zaltos show a more precise and dry oak. The Riedel expression of oak is clouding the expression of the fruit a bit. The Zalto’s seem more puristic and the fruit and oak is expressed with a bit more purity.

Bottom line … this is a quite close … but the more analytical approach of the Zaltos is more appealing to me … and the edge is the airyness in the finish.

Riedel – Zalto: 1 – 2

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