The EK Wine Thread
Jul 2, 2018, 1:10 am
#196
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
Had the P2 and Cheval Blanc 2004 the other day on EK
The P2 was just fantastic. Full of brioche and very expressive but in an understated way, this is a marvelous Champagne. And it was my first go at P2 2000, despite owning a decent amount of Champagne! I had a lot of fun. Drank it with some canapes, caviar, and even a biyriani. Obviously there are stylistic differences, but I find this P2 2000 much preferable to Krug NV and even Krug 2004 which seem a bit more common on the airlines I fly, and in the case of Krug 2004 being hawked very aggressively by my wine sellers for very good prices (one reason I suspect a few airlines ended up with so much Krug 2004....it is being marketed like crazy by LVMH, whereas 2002 is nowhere to be found.....hmmmm). This all says nothing of just how many steps above this P2 is above recent "normal" Dom vintages, which I find to be the most overhyped Champagne out there. Terrible value. This P2 on the other hand is downright amazing!
For the Cheval Blanc, I forgot to ask but I *think* they had more than one bottle. Because at least three of us on the left side alone had carafes and another passenger had a glass, and this was just during the first go around after takeoff with FAs asking us what we wanted. And I didn't hear any rejections. Fwiw we had a full A380 14/14 in F.
For someone relatively new to the EK frequent flyer world, the EK wine list approach really takes some getting used to
in a GOOD way.
The P2 was just fantastic. Full of brioche and very expressive but in an understated way, this is a marvelous Champagne. And it was my first go at P2 2000, despite owning a decent amount of Champagne! I had a lot of fun. Drank it with some canapes, caviar, and even a biyriani. Obviously there are stylistic differences, but I find this P2 2000 much preferable to Krug NV and even Krug 2004 which seem a bit more common on the airlines I fly, and in the case of Krug 2004 being hawked very aggressively by my wine sellers for very good prices (one reason I suspect a few airlines ended up with so much Krug 2004....it is being marketed like crazy by LVMH, whereas 2002 is nowhere to be found.....hmmmm). This all says nothing of just how many steps above this P2 is above recent "normal" Dom vintages, which I find to be the most overhyped Champagne out there. Terrible value. This P2 on the other hand is downright amazing!
For the Cheval Blanc, I forgot to ask but I *think* they had more than one bottle. Because at least three of us on the left side alone had carafes and another passenger had a glass, and this was just during the first go around after takeoff with FAs asking us what we wanted. And I didn't hear any rejections. Fwiw we had a full A380 14/14 in F.
For someone relatively new to the EK frequent flyer world, the EK wine list approach really takes some getting used to
in a GOOD way.
Jul 2, 2018, 7:21 am
#197
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,831
Am flying dxb - sfo later this month and I see that Au Sommet 2012 is on board. Anyone had this wine before? How was it? Description sounds very good. I hate to admit I live in Sonoma County and had not heard of this winery before.
(I can't spend the whole flight drinking P2)!
Thanks for your help.
(I can't spend the whole flight drinking P2)!
Thanks for your help.
its very good - also like the p2 a very expensive wine.
Jul 3, 2018, 2:02 pm
#198
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: FRA
Posts: 2,175
this EK wine programme right now is totally insane.
FRA-DXB-FRA had mouton 2001 both ways, and yes, they had more than one bottle per leg.
this is something that no other airline will ever do. and i wonder where they got the wine from.
FRA-DXB-FRA had mouton 2001 both ways, and yes, they had more than one bottle per leg.
this is something that no other airline will ever do. and i wonder where they got the wine from.
Jul 4, 2018, 12:38 am
#200
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
Jul 4, 2018, 1:33 am
#201
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 794
https://www.therealreview.com/2018/0...tage-bordeaux/
It is really more about appearance rather than wine. A regular Caymus probably will be just as good for a 1/5 of the price, but without the first growth label.
Jul 4, 2018, 1:42 am
#202
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,831
Looks like they are sourcing directly from the wineries in similar vein to Cathay Pacific and Chateau Lynch Bages. CX snaps up all of Lynch Bages off-vintage, probably at a really great price, then trots out the same off-vintage Lynch Bages year after year. You never see a good Lynch Bages vintage on CX.
https://www.therealreview.com/2018/0...tage-bordeaux/
It is really more about appearance rather than wine. A regular Caymus probably will be just as good for a 1/5 of the price, but without the first growth label.
https://www.therealreview.com/2018/0...tage-bordeaux/
It is really more about appearance rather than wine. A regular Caymus probably will be just as good for a 1/5 of the price, but without the first growth label.
There was a short program on ICE that explained it - not sure if its still available.
Jul 4, 2018, 1:51 am
#203
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 794
I have no doubt they got it directly from the source. Itīs mutually beneficial to EK and these chateau. They can unload their bad years in bulk and EK can get the prestige.
Jul 4, 2018, 2:39 am
#204
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,831
EK don't buy "bad" years - all the wine is personally tasted and selected by Sir Tim and Oliver Dixon and team.
Jul 4, 2018, 3:23 am
#205
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: London
Posts: 778
"Bad years" as in 2005 for France? 
Like the 2005 Chateau Figeac (St Emillion) that EK are serving now? Or that same 2005 of Les Forts de Latour (Pauillac) that is also being served now? Or the same 2005 for Sauternes, like the Chateau D'Yquem currently on some routes?
Probably one of the two best vintages of the past 20/30 years for France...
...or the 2013 US Chardonnays (see Paul Hobbs), or the 2013 Victoria Syrah (see Savaterre), or the 2007 Sauternes (see Chateau Suduiraut), ... I could continue. Yes, there can be less-than-stellar vintages onboard, but the point is that EK really does NOT seem to have a pattern of buying and serving the "lesser" vintages. And their cellar is something I am really appreciating as someone who is rather new to flying with them.
Like the 2005 Chateau Figeac (St Emillion) that EK are serving now? Or that same 2005 of Les Forts de Latour (Pauillac) that is also being served now? Or the same 2005 for Sauternes, like the Chateau D'Yquem currently on some routes?Probably one of the two best vintages of the past 20/30 years for France...
...or the 2013 US Chardonnays (see Paul Hobbs), or the 2013 Victoria Syrah (see Savaterre), or the 2007 Sauternes (see Chateau Suduiraut), ... I could continue. Yes, there can be less-than-stellar vintages onboard, but the point is that EK really does NOT seem to have a pattern of buying and serving the "lesser" vintages. And their cellar is something I am really appreciating as someone who is rather new to flying with them.
Jul 4, 2018, 6:54 am
#206
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MAN DXB ✈️
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 6,831
"Bad years" as in 2005 for France? Like the 2005 Chateau Figeac (St Emillion) that EK are serving now? Or that same 2005 of Les Forts de Latour (Pauillac) that is also being served now? Or the same 2005 for Sauternes, like the Chateau D'Yquem currently on some routes?
Probably one of the two best vintages of the past 20/30 years for France...
...or the 2013 US Chardonnays (see Paul Hobbs), or the 2013 Victoria Syrah (see Savaterre), or the 2007 Sauternes (see Chateau Suduiraut), ... I could continue. Yes, there can be less-than-stellar vintages onboard, but the point is that EK really does NOT seem to have a pattern of buying and serving the "lesser" vintages. And their cellar is something I am really appreciating as someone who is rather new to flying with them.
Like the 2005 Chateau Figeac (St Emillion) that EK are serving now? Or that same 2005 of Les Forts de Latour (Pauillac) that is also being served now? Or the same 2005 for Sauternes, like the Chateau D'Yquem currently on some routes?Probably one of the two best vintages of the past 20/30 years for France...
...or the 2013 US Chardonnays (see Paul Hobbs), or the 2013 Victoria Syrah (see Savaterre), or the 2007 Sauternes (see Chateau Suduiraut), ... I could continue. Yes, there can be less-than-stellar vintages onboard, but the point is that EK really does NOT seem to have a pattern of buying and serving the "lesser" vintages. And their cellar is something I am really appreciating as someone who is rather new to flying with them.
Jul 4, 2018, 6:55 am
#207
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
I agree with all your content especially in the above post about CX, except this point: EK is serving good or downright excellent vintages, while CX generally serves off years and way too young at that. There is zero comparison to how CX and EK approach wine...it shows on board. CX has a rather sorry approach to wine, which those of us who are captive to CX and love wine have been whinging about for years.
Jul 4, 2018, 6:57 am
#208
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
It was 1985 I believe. I had it on board and in the F lounge a few months ago.
Jul 4, 2018, 9:25 am
#209
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 794
I agree with all your content especially in the above post about CX, except this point: EK is serving good or downright excellent vintages, while CX generally serves off years and way too young at that. There is zero comparison to how CX and EK approach wine...it shows on board. CX has a rather sorry approach to wine, which those of us who are captive to CX and love wine have been whinging about for years.
The Haut-Brion 2004 can be bought today for less than the future of 2016 or 2017. If that is not a bad year, what else can be said.
EK bad is still better than anything out there by a long shot. My point is they only bought them for the prestige factor. For probably the same price, they can get quilceda creek and it will blow these off-vintage first growth out of the water.
Jul 4, 2018, 9:32 am
#210
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 794
So far, we only have 1 data point on first growth. If the next vintage is somehow not so good compare to vintages before and after, you will have your answer.