British Airways Wines

I just got off the plane from London and Seattle and wanted to give the low down on the BA wines in Club.

Jancis Robinson has helped create their 'award winning selection' and I have to admit, it's a good list.

Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve is the house champagne, made from a classic blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay.  Majestic are currently offering a third off the vintage 2003 Charles Heidsieck here (if you're interested).

The two whites on offer were:

Benzinger Los Carneros Chardonnay 2004 - I didn't try this one but it is described as a complex blend of green orchard and ripe tropical fruits by the BA team.

Pouilly Fume 2005 Jean-Claude Chatelain - I did try this one and it was delicious - classic French Sauvignon Blanc - it was dry but rounded, showing its class, without too much fruit to ruin the zestiness.

There were three reds on offer:

Avila Syrah 2004 from Santa Barbara - I almost went for this one since I knew it would be nice and blackcurrenty with a touch of spice, but I stuck with the Old World wines and went for the...

Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2004 Domaine du Vieux Lazaret - from the southern Rhone valley this was another classic wine drinking very well.  It went down a treat with my steak but was light enough to glug on its own.  According to the booklet, 2004 was a very good year for Rhone wines and that helped me decide.  I chose well and had three glasses of it.

The final red was Chateau Fourcas Hoston 2003 Cru Bourgeois Superieur Listrac - what a mouthful!  Just the name put me off but the description on the list did no better, starting off with '2003 was a very awkward year for winemakers in Bordeaux'.  Well I disagree in part.  The better chateaux did a very good job with what nature brought them but the not so clever winemakers did not. But Jancis knows her stuff so I'm sure this would have been a worthy complement to the BA steak as well.