Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I have owned my Liebherr WS13500 for about a week and am very satisfied with its performance and build quality so far. Some details that are not apparent from online descriptions here, on Liebherr's website, and elsewhere include:
-only three of the wooden shelves pull out (with a locking roller assembly) and they should be configured to hold a maximum of nine bottles. The other shelves, which require layered stacking to achieve maximum bottle capacity are designed to remain in place - trying to pull them out can result in bottles shifting and the shelf falling out (disaster!).
-tall shouldered Cabernet/Bordeaux bottles may require resting the backs of bottles on top of wooden shelf edge to fit bottles facing each other in an alternating fashion.
-the "child lock" mentioned in product description is not a door lock but rather a lock for the digital controls at the top of the unit - not really helpful unless you have a six-foot tall three year old (or an 18 year old with the mentality of a three year old)
-while humidity control and a 50 to 80 percent humidity range are mentioned, there is no way to adjust humidity percentage to your specific preference. The unit automatically adjusts humidity within this range, and you need an optional hygrometer to monitor actual humidity levels.
-the digital temperature control is not properly calibrated on my unit. A temperature setting of 55F resulted in a 60 degree F internal temperature (confirmed with both a digital refrigerator thermometer and a manual thermometer). Budget an extra $10-$15 for a refrigerator thermometer and don't trust the unit's display reading (YMMV).
The build quality is first class and the unit it very attractive. Liebherr includes a bottle of stainless steel cleaner for sprucing up its appearance after you've broken it out of the box and moved it into place - a nice touch. Two small wheels on the back of the refrigerator make it easy to move and position the unit on hard surface floors. The wooden shelves are sturdy and sanded smoothly. The grape cluster ventilation holes are both attractive and functional. The interior light makes labels easily visible and its intensity is adjustable.
The unit is exceptionally quiet and maintains a very steady temperature, making it a great solution for long term aging of your most beloved vintages. While I don't anticipate being able to fit a full 135 bottles in the unit (I have several magnums that take up extra space) I've so far fit 110 bottles in the unit with room to spare for another 15 to 20 standard-size bottles. The unit accommodates Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Port, and odd California bottle sizes (like Turley Petite Sirah) well without sacrificing too much space. Some of the stacking configurations as suggested in the manual are rather precarious and require the foresight placing the bottles you plan on consuming first on the top of the stack unless you enjoy removing and replacing 25-30 bottles when you decide it's finally time to consume that 1982 Latour you've squirreled away.
My biggest complaint is that the unit does not provide a means for locking the door. I could probably use a cable and lock, but that wouldn't look very attractive, would it.
Highly recommended overall with just a few minor flaws that don't really detract from its main function, purpose, and owner satisfaction.
UPDATE: I recently discovered that there is a five-degree difference in temperature between the uppermost and lowermost sections, which explains why the temperature setting appeared to be off (I monitored temp near the top of the unit). While this is within a reasonable range for long-term preservation of wine it's really not acceptable for a product in the Liebherr's price range. As a result I've downgraded to 4 stars from 5.
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