After the great success of Riedel's first jet-black Blind-Blind Tasting glass, the company has come out with a number of black tasting glasses in the top-shelf Sommeliers collection that take the popular O tumbler form. The opaque black glass hides not only the color of the wine (many oenophiles can't tell a white from a red when the color is not apparent), but the clarity, sediment, and depth of the wine, forming a double-blind test. However, these new black tumblers also make a bold contemporary statement and work fabulously for casual yet appreciative wine drinking. And, the stemless design means breakage is kept to a minimum.

Made in Austria by acclaimed glassmakers, the Sommeliers tumbler is mouth-blown of 24-percent lead crystal for superior delicacy. The size and shape enhances the appreciation of Cabernets, and a thumb indentation in the side and an index finger indentation in the bottom help provide a secure grasp. The tumbler comes handsomely packaged in a single gift tube, ideal for a wine lover who enjoys hosting tasting parties. Sommeliers crystal should be washed by hand to ensure longevity and to keep the glass surface free of detergent residue that can affect wine taste. --Ann Bieri

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