Spiegelau Bordeaux Glass

A Bordeaux glass is built around one job: giving full-bodied red wine room to open up. Bordeaux-style glasses like this one typically have a tall, broad bowl that narrows toward the rim, with a long stem. The shape is meant to suit Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and the blends built from them, as well as other structured reds such as Malbec, Syrah and Tempranillo. The listing doesn't give capacity, height, or the exact crystal or glass type, so check those against the product specification before you buy. The tall bowl serves two purposes. The wide base lets you swirl and expose a good amount of wine to air, which softens the grip of young, tannic reds. The tapered upper part collects the aromas of dark fruit, cedar, tobacco and spice in a smaller space, so they reach your nose in concentrated form. The height also keeps the wine away from your lips at first, so the first impression is aroma, not heat or alcohol. For serving, pour a modest amount, usually to the widest point of the bowl or a little below it. A fuller glass leaves no room to swirl. Reds in this style generally do best slightly below room temperature, around 16 to 18°C. Ten minutes in the fridge helps on a warm day, and a young bottle often benefits from decanting before it goes in the glass. Hold the glass by the stem so your hand doesn't warm the bowl. A Bordeaux glass also suits dry fortified styles and some bolder rosés, though it is not the first choice for light whites or sparkling wine. At the table it pairs naturally with the dishes that go well with the wines it was designed for, such as roast lamb, grilled steak, aged hard cheeses and mushroom-based dishes. For care, rinse it in warm water and dry it with a lint-free cloth. Glassware with a thin stem is easiest to handle by hand-washing, unless the maker states it is dishwasher safe.