Burgundy/pinot noir stemware- Lenox Tuscany Series Grand Burgundy. They are identical to the Riedel Sommelier Series. I have both and have made the siude-by-side comparison. The only difference is in the width of the base. One of them (don't remember which) is about a half inch wider than the other. These frequently go on sale at Macy's for $40 for 4.

Board-o, I think you mean the Lenox Tuscany Classic Crystal Grand Bordeaux. Lenox does not make a Burgundy glass. Btw, while the Lenox and Riedel glasses may look alike they are different. The Lenox glass holds 26.5 ounces and the Riedel Somm. Bordeaux hold 30 3/8 ounces so the glasses can't be exactly the same (these figures are taken from the Lenox web site referenced above and Riedel catalog material I got from Riedel).

I know GATC has (had? I've seen him break at least two of these) Lenox but I personally have never tried the Lenox glasses. The Lenox are definely less expensive than the Riedel as is just about every other glass I've seen, only hand cut crystal is more expensive than Riedel.

skwid, this is the first time I have ever seen you post anything incorrect, but Lenox most definitely does make a Tuscany Classic Collection Grand Burgundy stem. I have a dozen of them. Because you are a very intelligent guy, amzingly so, I ran down to the cellar to check the box again. You actually got me to doubt myself.

Lenox does not have this Burgundy glass on their web site. According tothis link on the Lenox website there is no Burgundy glass. I did find references doing a google search and finally found the glass you probably have at this website (I have to say that finding this glass was a major pain in the a**, I'm guessing Lenox really doesn't want to sell the Burgundy glass). However again the Lenox glass may look the same as the Riedel but they are different. The Lenox glass holds 30 1/2 ounces and 10 1/2" high while the Riedel Somm. Burgundy glass holds 37 ounces and is 9 3/4" high. While the height difference could be just the stem length the capacity will make a difference and is fairly significant.

Another 'slight' difference is the retail price!

Every Macy's I've been to carries both the Grand Bordeaux and Grand Burgundy glasses, though on our Florida trip, I was only able to find the Grand Bordeaux in stock. They did have a Grand Burgundy glass on dislplay but they were sold out. I did put the Grand Bordeaux glasses net to each other and found them vurtually identical, but I haven't done it with the Grand Burgundy glasses. Regardless of the differences, I don't believe there's any benefit to purchaseing the Soms over the Lenox. Next time you get back this way, skwid, maybe we can do a little test.

Board-O. Interesting.. I checked the macys.com website. Under the Lenox Tuscany glassware, there is a photo of the entire collection. One of the glasses is obviously the burgundy, but the pull down menu that's used to order does not have a 'burgundy' selection. Strange.

I'm basically happy, for now, with my predominantly Spiegelau stemware. I have some Riedels for my whites, and kind of thick champagne flutes (but that is OK as I am not yet a Champagne slut). Maybe sometime I'll think about upgrading my stems or adding to them, but I have more pressing needs -- i.e. storage.

PURPLE and myself went to a local outlet mall to exchange all of the shirts I received for Christmas for the correct sizes. While there we looked up and low and behold...there was a Lenox outlet store. So we stopped in and purchased a 4 pack of the Lenox Tuscany Series Grand Burgundy stems. They also had the Bordeaux stems and several other types plus what appears to be pretty nice barware. We also purchased a Lenox Tuscany Series Pitcher that looks very close to a Riedel Duck Decanter. Hey, you can't have enough decanters.

Prices:

4 x Lenox Tuscany Series Grand Burgundy Stems for $17.49
1 x Lenox Tuscany Series Decanter for $27.96

I've got two of these big boys sitting on the table waiting to pop a Pinot Noir tonight for dinner.

$17.49 for four!!!!!!

Joe, $17.49 for four stems, or for each of four stems? I thought I got a good deal at $40 for four, though there was a sale recently on the for $30, so I bought the goblets for white wine, and the white wine for dessert wine. Works for me.

Board-O, 4 stems for a total of $17.49. Obviously a really good deal.

PURPLE and myself drank out of these glasses tonight along side the Spiegelau Authentis Burgundy stems. IMHO the wine we were drinking smelled and tasted slightly better than in the Lenox but I suspect based on the comparison that if we were serving a bigger, more extracted wine it would show better in the Lenox. Nice to have two Burgundy glasses that I can mix and match to the wine I'm opening.

Board-o, I am guessing you missed where WIML purchased these stems, the outlet stores are always cheaper. Since the Burgundy glasses are not on Lenox' website I'm kind of wondering if they will be available much longer.

I better be careful not to break mine.

So, I went ahead and mentioned to the wife my plan to get rid of the Mikasa and replace it with Riedel........for some reason, she doesn't see the genius of my plan.

You told her?

Yes, but maybe I should have removed the Mikasa to see if she would notice??

I mentioned the fact that I wrote this thread to my wife last night and she was not happy that I would even consider upgrading my stemware. I think I am just going to have to send some "anonymous" gifts to myself. Or even better, maybe someone here could be my strawman:

"Look what I got from Board-O as a gift, a set of Riedel burgundy stems... How nice..."

Pssst, Board-O, the check is in the mail.....