Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/57654
INTRODUCTIONS Not Just Another Pretty Glass NEW CHÂTEAU BACCARAT GLASSWARE MELDS FORM AND FUNCTION by Anthony Dias Blue F or 250 years, Baccarat has been acknowledged as the world's leading producer of luxury crystal, but in recent years other companies, focused almost exclu- sively on providing wine glasses to the burgeoning culture of wine drinkers, have squeezed and diminished this venerable company's market share. Now Baccarat is moving boldly to re-assert its leadership in this very important arena. The company has just announced the introduction of the Château Baccarat line of glassware, a revolutionary new design that is both beautiful and dramatically func- tional. There are three wine glasses in the line—a red wine glass, a white wine glass and a Champagne flute—as well as two tumblers and a carafe. Baccarat believes that the design of these glasses embodies a universal shape and that the line therefore does not require numerous expensive iterations dedicated to individual wine types. All of the glasses are based on a slender trapezoidal design that includes a wide, concave bottom that gives depth to wine by unleashing its full spectrum of aromas and flavors while minimizing alcohol. The graceful chimney shape amplifies and concen- trates while providing optimum aeration. In a side-by-side comparison with standard wine glasses, the difference made by the Château Baccarat glasses is remarkable. I was skeptical going in and left very impressed; these glasses have a dramatic and extremely positive impact on how a wine tastes. They intensify and enhance the wine, allowing it to reveal every nuance of its flavor. The Château Baccarat glasses will sell for $85 per stem, $70 per tumbler and $495 for the carafe. They will be available beginning in April at Bloomingdale's. 98 / the tasting panel / march 2012