AA Flagship Lounge raid, including Tablas, Stoller, Matanzas and Giovanni Rosso
I’m in the AA Flagship lounge at Los Angeles International Airport, so I thought I’d try through the wines on offer. I’m flying economy, but status gets you into the best lounges, and this is a good one.
Stoller Pinot Noir 2022 Dundee Hills, Oregon
Light, supple and nicely textured with a core of sweet cherry fruit and just a hint of spice and tannin. Nice sweet fruit here with lovely balance. A good beginner’s Pinot but with a touch of seriousness. 91/100 (This is a $40 wine in the USA and should be better at this price. The major critics gave this a similar score)
Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Rosé 2023 Paso Robles, California
This is bright with a core of sweet strawberry fruit and a nice lemony brightness. There’s also some orange peel here and it has a juicy energy. Finishes dry but there’s texture and fruit sweetness. 91/100 (This is $28 in the USA, and by local standards it’s a good value, but would be too expensive for European markets)
Matanzas Creek Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Sonoma County, California
Highly aromatic techno style nose with pear drops and elderflower. The palate has mouthfilling citrus fruit with some mandarin and lime. Fruity and fun. 88/100 (This sells for $25 in the USA and works at that price point, but has zero potential for export at anything close to that price.)
Walt Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2021 California
Toast, honey, vanilla and nuts complement the rich peach and pear fruit. Textbook rich Californian Chardonnay – a crowd pleaser finishing with a touch of sweetness. 87/100 ($40 in the USA which offers no value at all)
Kettmeier Pinot Bianco 2023 Alto Adige/Sudtirol, Italy
Juicy and bright with mandarin and lime notes, showing exuberant fruit and a touch of saltiness. Refreshing and bright. 90/100 ($20 in the USA, which is an OK value)
Giovanni Rosso Langhe Nebbiolo 2022 Piemonte, Italy
Juicy with a subtle green edge to the cherry and plum fruit. This is grainy and nicely grippy with a savoury edge to the fruit. Not amazing, but typical. 90/100 (around $20 in the USA which makes this OK value)
Three By Wade Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 California
This is sweet and soft with savoury notes of tar and clove under the cherry, strawberry and blackcurrant fruit. It’s easy and sweet but has a slight bitterness on the finish. Will have its fans but too ripe and stewed for me. 86/100 (This is a collaboration between Dwayne Wayde, a basketball player, and Pahlmeyer, so I guess it’s aiming at a new wine audience. $28 retail in the USA)
