Airline ports

[RonnieRoots]

I thought we already had a topic on this, but couldn't find it. If it does exist: moderators, feel free to merge.

Enjoying my first Business Class experience (but hopefully not my last!) I thought it would be fun to create some sort of list of ports available at different airlines.

KLM served us Taylor's LBV 2000 on the flight from Amsterdam to Muscat. Decent enough for a glass or two.

BTW, when I looked at the menu I thought it was my lucky day, because they listed a Douro red (Morgadia da Calcada 2004 - a project by Dirk Niepoort) as their monthly special. Then the purser stopped by to tell us that it was replaced by a Chilean merlot....

[Alex Bridgeman]

British Airways business class between Heathrow (Terminal 5, no less!) and Miami offered Warre 2001 Filtered LBV. As Ronnie puts it - decent enough for a couple of glasses.

If I recall correctly, BA first class offers Warre 1988 colheita, but it's been a few months since I managed to fly in first class.

Alex

[Conky]

Not having flown either, do they supply a normal bottle, or do they have those dreadful minature bottles they have for everything else?

[RonnieRoots]

KLM had normal bottles for all drinks.

[ajfeather]

Looks like no change at American Graham's Tawny (yes business and first), stick to the wine!

[DRT]

Jet Airways - Heathrow to Mumbai serve Dom Perignon 1996 and Graham's 20 yr old Tawny from 750ml bottles. They even let you keep the bottle in your little Business Class Cocoon if you ask them nicely

[Alex Bridgeman]

The BA ports are served out of proper bottles.

[RonnieRoots]

Graham's 20 YOT would certainly be appreciated on any flight. And they actually fly from Muscat to London! I see a detour coming...

[RonnieRoots]

Apparently, there is such a thing as the "Cellars in the Sky" award, orgnised by "Business Traveller". The results in the category Fortified / Sweet:

BUSINESS CLASS FORTIFIED / SWEET

1. Lufthansa
Vinhos Niepoort Late Bottled Vintage 2004, Douro, Portugal
Score: 18.5

2. Singapore Airlines
Graham’s Late Bottled Vintage Port 2003, Douro, Portugal
Score: 18

3. Air New Zealand
Dr John Forrest, Forrest Noble Marlborough Riesling 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand
Score: 17.75

4. Delta
Chambers Rosewood Vineyards, Muscat a Petit Grains, Rutherglen, Australia
Score: 17.5

5. Qantas
Baileys of Glenrowan Founder Series Liqueur Muscat, Glenrowan, Australia
Score: 17

FIRST CLASS FORTIFIED / SWEET

1. Qantas
Morris of Rutherglen Old Premium Liqueur Tokay, Rutherglen, Australia
Score: 18.5

2. Emirates
Château Rieussec 2003, Domaines Lafite, France
Score: 17.75

3. ANA
Taylor’s 20-Year-Old Tawny Port, Douro, Portugal
Score: 17.5

Look here for the article and here for the full results.

Lufthansa's business class certainly looks most tempting.

[JacobH]

Morris of Rutherglen Old Premium Liqueur Tokay, Rutherglen, Australia

That has to be the worst name for a wine I’ve seen in a long time...If it hadn’t won this competition, I’d have put it in the Buckfastleigh Tonic Wine category.

An impressive choice by Lufthansa, though.

[benread]

BA Club are currently offering 2004 Warre LBV, from a 0.75l bottle - they open one per aisle!. I was served by a Portuguese steward who castigated his colleague for overfilling my glass! I made the point of going back for 3 or 4 more glasses!

It was very drinkable for what I believe was a filtered LBV. (I did not get a chance to look closely enough.)

[uncle tom]

They even let you keep the bottle in your little Business Class Cocoon if you ask them nicely

The test of good biz class service IMO..

- from experiance, not a hope in hell of getting the bottle on any American airline, Lufthansa has to be asked really nicely in biz, but no problem in first; Thai no problem at all...

Tom

[benread]

It is only an issue if anyone else is drinking it - otherwise, there is no need to secure control! There is never enough space even in the business seats and with a 19 month old wriggling around, the bottle would have been a major risk!

[RonnieRoots]

I was supposed to fly with Etihad to London today, but they are doing a reservation system upgrade, and as such are making a mess of everything. They were able to fly me to Abu Dhabi, but overbooked the connecting flight to London. After some persuasion from my side (I wasn't willing to accept a one day delay), they booked me on a Qatar airways flight through Doha, and upgraded me to business. Now in the Doha business lounge and still have to wait another two hours before my flight departs, but regular top-ups of Kopke Colheita 1974 make it bearable.

[jdaw1]

Good luck.

[Glenn E.]

regular top-ups of Kopke Colheita 1974 make it bearable.

This is true for many definitions of "it."

[Alex Bridgeman]

Did you take the bottle onto the plane with you?

[RonnieRoots]

I didn't but they had the same port on the plane as well, so I got through my 6 hour delay without too many complaints. Luckily my baggage made it in one piece, so the bottle for tomorrow is standing upright.