I'm not really sure why anyone would get upset a particular 'type' of wine isn't available. Being claret is absolutely no guarantee of quality. Indeed you'll get far higher quality for the same price by choosing something without the 'name' so really it's quite sensible for BA not to offer it it would just be a sop to creating an illusion of luxury without having the budget to really deliver it. Especially with demand for claret soaring in many parts of the world purely as a status symbol, an airline is very unlikely to give you anything decent. Frankly give me a good Malbec any day. With a lump of bife de chorizo. Heaven for less than a tenner.

But it isn't just about perceived quality - people may enjoy a particular tradition and style of wine. Also, I'm unsure who is getting 'upset'?

I only had a brief visit yesterday so 'made do' with LPGS.

Will be back later in the week for a longer visit, so will certainly check what the status is then.

I've been fed a lot of "almost Bordeaux" from a lot of other parts of the world, and while many were quite fine wines in their own right, that right was not Bordeaux and they all showed that duplicating the combination of dry mild tannins, aged dried fruit flavours, and very long finish in the mouth of good Bordeaux is quite difficult.

A recent example is Capaia One. It's very nice, but it's too fruity to be Bordeaux, even if they are trying hard to make it like Bordeaux.

So, I would like an actual Bordeaux style wine available, as well as some good southern European red, some South American Malbec or similar, and some Cape Pinotage, and so on. They're different and trying to claim you can substitute one for another is just not on.

You are, of course, absolutely right about this. But the issue as I understand it is that the other red wines available in the CCR are only very rarely up to the same quality standard as the claret that is typically available. I love a good Malbec too, but you won't find such a wine in the CCR sadly.

It's threads like this one which make me love FT so much. You are truly my people. Without wanting to make another reference to Cape Town, all I can say is that it could be worse. I'm having to fly AA today.

Malbec man here so during a lounge visit or on board I like to take the opportunity to sample wines I haven't tried before.

And I also. It is quite nice to think that some people behind the scenes have taken some care in assembling this wine list - in particular wines that are going to be able to stand up against 30,000 feet, and to enjoy the fruits of their labour. In F I will sometimes ask for half a glass of a different wine with each course so I can try most of the wines. On last trip to SFO though the crew member was resistant, and ended up giving me full glasses despite my feeble protestations ;)

True the "deadlines' have been pushed into the future. As I understand it, the dates were decided by if it does not rain to replenish our reservoirs......perhaps people who actually traveled there can tell us if water can be spent " like water" ?

1 "Irrelevant" You have a right to your opinion. It was pointed out to show kinds of things we lament over when "living in heaven" as compared to a majority of humanity.
2 No, no water issues except when lounge(s) close down due to water flooding ? ;) Seriously though, do read the above line.
3 DO CHECK MY POSTS. I am CONSISTENTLY in favour of calling out poor service...or poor goods that fall short of what is "customary" for that price point. Been chided enough for emphasizing " CUSTOMER" in my posts....to highlight we have lost our way in delivering what the pax wants.....
4 As to " depremiuming" of product ( & services) this forum has umpteen posts on enhancements. At the same time as pointed out upstream a particular brand / varietal may be someone's fav while others prefer brand X. All a matter of one's own priorities. I have been often "counseled" , if you don't like it , pick another carrier !

To be fair, this is a thread discussing the availability of Claret in the CCR and latterly GF too. While I would quite agree that it is a "first world problem", I think you'd have to concede that your original post was designed to get exactly the reaction that it did.

FTFY = Fixed That For You.

OMG is this the first time a thread has branched off to make a point? I am surprised that you claim to know what was/ is in my mind .I do not know what you know was in my mind. Care to elaborate ?

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...8b812b897.jpeg

On message today

Interesting. A week ago there was just the 3 reds in the left of your photo (see my post 42 of 24 March). On Friday it was joined by a bulk red from the USA, and today we're up to Ch. Lynch-Moussas 2009.