Wednesday, September 30, 2009

In the Plane: Lufthansa/Business/Washington D.C to Frankfurt am Main/September 2009

Lufthansa serves 5 excellent wines in business class and one has ample time to taste all of them. It is a very good selection of both old and new World wines.

Champagne Jacquart Brut Mosaique. This is a cuvee of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. An excellent champagne. Maturation on the fine lees after second fermentation. Intense straw-yellow color, yeasty aromas and fruity notes of pear and apple. On the palate, the wine is very refreshing with pleasant mousse.

2008 Sonnenwind, Riesling Spaetlese trocken, Weingut Motzenbaecker, Germany. Motzenbaecker is one of the wine estates of Gina and Klaus Menger-Krug, who met at collage and now own several wine estates in different wine regions. They are also known for producing one of the best German sparkling wines. This was a dry Spaetlese with a bouquet reminiscent of ripe apricots, juicy peaches and ripe citrus fruit, which flatters the palate with freshness and finesse.

2007 Columbia Valley Chardonnay, Red Diamond, USA. The wine region of Washington State north of Oregon has scored a huge upswing in the wine world in recent years. This is a chardonnay in classic New World style, with pleasing aromas of ripe citrus fruit, juicy pineapple and subtle hints of vanilla.

2005 Chateau Barreyres, Haut Medoc, Cru Bourgeois, France. A classic elegant Cru Bourgeois with subtle spiciness, cassis fruit and elegant toasty notes. A classical Haut Medoc in the traditional style.

2006 Quinta do Gradi, Vinho Regional Estremadura, Portugal. A juicy wine crafted in the New World style. The bouquet is appealing with well-integrated oak spiciness, a little cinnamon and clove, as well as dark berry fruits. It has a touch of chocolate on the palate and well-knit tannins and a good structure on the finish. A wine from an upcoming region in Portugal that is turning to New World style techniques.

A finished the dinner with a Schladerer Kirschwasser, a very nice German brandy which is made on the basis of cherry.

No comments:

Post a Comment