TN: Airplane Wines

[jrufusj]

AIRPLANE WINES - A JAL flight (1/9/2006)

On a flight to HK. With airline food, culminating in one of those grey, steamed steaks. Blech!! Actually, a cold lobster terrine wasn't half-bad. Why don't they learn and do a cold food plate?

• N.V. Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Brut - France, Champagne
  Very light straw yellow, almost watery at edge. Mousse closer to pétillant than to mousseaux. Simple nose of toast and sweetish white fruit. Palate has a slightly yeasty apple/pear fruit with a little leesiness on the brief finish. Good acid, in balance, but not much of real interest here.
  
• 2004 Labouré-Roi Chablis - France, Burgundy, Chablis
  Slightly darkish yellow. Clean but not particularly bright. Minerally nose of light tart white fruit. Not much else on the nose. Bright acid and mineral on slightly dilute apple/grapefruit palate. Picks up a little bit of weight with time in glass. Citrus fruit and acid sustains a reasonably long finish. My first '04 Chablis. If this negoc version of a simple Chablis is indicative, I'm going to like the vintage. Good for what it is.
  
• 2003 Château de la Croix Cuvée la Grave - France, Bordeaux, Médoc
  Deep inky young-wine purple. Plum, restrained bit of oak, noticeable alcohol on nose. Ripe raspberry and currant fruit on entry, once the quickly receding tannins abate. A little thin in the middle with some plummy merlot fruit. Decent acid gives the finish a bit of unexpected brightness. Dense, a little rustic, but not too bad to a guy who generally doesn't appreciate young Bordeaux. Not something to seek out or buy, but better than much airplane wine.
  

Posted from CellarTracker