Airport Lounge Raid: BA First, Terminal 3, LHR
Waiting for a flight it’s always fun to run through the wines in the lounge. This is almost the full line up in the BA First lounge at Heathrow’s terminal 3. Great to see some English sparklers being poured alongside Champagne.
Simpsons Chalklands Brut NV Kent, England
Lively and fresh with nice fruit intensity. Chalky edge to the crisp lemony fruit. some richer orchard fruit notes. Classy. 92/100
Balfour Rosé de Noirs NV Kent, England
Rich cherry and lemon fruit with nice generosity. Juicy and bright with nice purity. Quite a rich style. 91/100
Champagne Palmer Brut Reserve NV
Juicy and fresh with some apple and lemon notes. Light, fruity and simple. Nice purity but lacks any complexity. 88/100
Champagne Besserat de Bellefon Grande Tradition Brut Rosé NV
Fruity and lively with strawberries and redcurrants. Crisp and zesty with nice generosity. A crowd pleaser. 89/100
Gobelsburg Urgestein Riesling 2023 Kamptal, Austria
Fruity and rounded with pure citrus fruit. Good acidity but also nice ripe full fruit. 90/100
Dogpoint Sauvignon Blanc 2023 Marlborough, New Zealand
Nice intensity here. Hint of struck flint with juicy quince and lime fruit. Nice greens, good richness, some elderflower detail. 92/100
Cloudline Pinot Noir 2022 Willamette Valley, Oregon
13.5% alcohol. This is from Drouhin. Sweetly aromatic with strawberry and cherry fruit. Soft, ripe, easy and very drinkable in a rich style. 91/100
Chateau Ste Michelle Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Columbia Valley, Washington State
13.5% alcohol. Developed with some earthy hints as well as soft leafy, spicy blackcurrant fruit and a twist of sour cherry on the finish. Drinking very well now but don’t hold. 90/100
Sixth Sense Syrah 2021 Lodi, California
15% alcohol. Ripe, lush and rich with smooth sweet berry fruits. So lush and expansive with liqueur-like fruit. A very rich wine, but well done in this style. 88/100
