In order to delight the discerning palates of the airline’s passengers and enhance their inflight dining enjoyment, Cathay Pacific’s professional catering team and wine consultants Lau Chi-sun and Roy Moorfield are pleased to present these premium wines to passengers in addition to the regular First and Business Class wine offerings.

The latest First Class wine selection features prestigious wines from Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux. These fine wines will be served from November across the airline’s network on a rotational basis:

• Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2011
• Château Bouscaut Blanc 2012
• Château Haut-Bergey 2005
• Chateau Olivier Red 2009
• Domaine de Chevalier 2012

Cathay Pacific General Manager Inflight Services Ed Higgs said: “At Cathay Pacific, we always strive to offer the best inflight food and beverage experience for passengers to enlighten their journey. One of the major elements of our high-quality inflight dining experience is the award-winning wine cellar we have onboard. Apart from our regular selections, our professional wine tasting panel are also tasked with selecting unique or special types of wine around the world to give our passengers a chance with taste wines that they may not have tried before.

“We also take into consideration the latest wine consumption trends in addition to our passengers’ preferences when we select wines to serve on board. Passengers’ feedback reflects that they look forward to experiencing new wines every time they fly with us. And so our wine tasting panel are constantly exploring various new wine options,” Mr Higgs continued.

Apart from choosing top wines from renowned regions, for example France, Cathay Pacific is leading the way in exploring the wine world with passengers by sourcing fine wines from up-and-coming wine regions. Four fine wines from Argentina will be available to Business Class passengers from December on the airline’s long-haul flights. These fine wines will be rotated regularly, and they are all well-suited for enjoyment inflight:

• Andeluna 1300, Malbec 2014
• Las Perdices Reserva, Malbec 2013
• Mendoza Vineyards Gran Reserva, Malbec 2012
• Bodega Ruca Malen Yauquen, Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

To cater to the varying needs of passengers, this year Cathay Pacific serves around 80 different wines from countries such as France, Italy, Austria, South Africa, Australia, the United States and New Zealand. Around 1.8 million bottles of wine were consumed in 2014.

About the new First Class wines – Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux

White Wines:

Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2011

Château Smith Haut Lafitte produces one of the best white wines from Bordeaux. The 2011 vintage, made primarily from Sauvignon Blanc grapes with a small percentage of Sauvignon Gris and Semillon grapes, is bright and vibrant dominated by attractive citrus fruits and white flowers. On the palate, it is rich and complex with a nice balance between oak and fruit followed by a persistent finish.

Château Bouscaut 2012

The relatively cool 2012 vintage was excellent for the whites. The aroma features fresh citrus fruits, while new oak tampers with the palate, leaving a long finish of vanilla and fruits. It is a beautiful wine with a wealth of richness and vitality.  

Red Wines:

Château Haut-Bergey 2005

The 2005 Château Haut-Bergey is a wine of very good structure. Round and smooth with nice ripe to dried red and black fruits, plus hints of undergrowth and tobacco. This wine is very well balanced and elegant.

Chateau Olivier Red 2009

Made from one of the greatest vintages in the last 60 years, this wine reflects its real quality.  Dark fruits dominate the aroma, leading to a beautifully balanced palate, which is a hallmark of the vintage. The sustained flavour trails into an elegant and persistent finish.

Domaine de Chevalier 2012

The 2012 Domaine de Chevalier is one of the stars of the vintage. Filled with purity, equilibrium and balance, it is very floral with a sweet bouquet of red and black currants, graphite and well-integrated toasty oak. This attractive wine showcases the elegance and finesse for which this famous estate is renowned.

About the new Business Class wines from Argentina:

Andeluna 1300, Malbec 2014

This award winning Malbec has an attractive violet colour with aromas of black fruits and subtle toasty nuances. On the palate, it is fresh and soft with intense red and black fruit flavours, combined with spices and chocolate that complement the soft tannins to produce an exceptional wine with a long finish. This wine pairs well with red meat dishes such as grilled tenderloin, beef stews and casseroles.

Las Perdices Reserva, Malbec 2013

The 2013 Las Perdices Reserva Malbec Reserva offers aromas of red fruits accompanied by notes of vanilla and coffee from its oak ageing. Smooth on the palate, well-balanced with ripe tannins and flavours of plums, gooseberries, chocolate, and coffee, this wine is the ideal accompaniment to grilled meats and hard cheeses.

Mendoza Vineyards Gran Reserva, Malbec 2012

Aged for one year in French oak barrels, the 2012 Mendoza Vineyards Gran Reserva has aromas of incense, spices as well as black and red cherries. The medium-bodied palate shows a profusion of fine-grained tannins with complex flavours of plums, cherries and sweet spices, and a long finish. It has a classical, serious profile, with restraint and poise.

Bodega Ruca Malen Yauquen, Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

This wine is a blend of 50% Malbec and 50% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, which are carefully selected and blended to best express the characteristics of each varietal in Uco Valley, Mendoza. On the nose, this wine displays black fruit and spicy notes. It is fresh and vibrant while the tannins are sweet, adding to the wine structure and body. On the palate, it is juicy and persistent, with cherry-plum notes and a touch of star anise. It is a wonderful match for grilled cuts of red meat, pasta with tomato-based sauces and empanadas.