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- Published: 18 June 2013 18 June 2013
Its always interesting to taste wines during flights because of the pressure placed on the senses. Wines can taste far different from when they're served on terre firma.
I am typing this on a British Airways flight back from Istanbul and have been served a couple of small bottles of Cape Spring Pinotage from South Africa. Pinotage is wine that often surprises people at how easy it is to drink, with tasty pungent cherry fruits. This is reflected now. As soon as the wine is in the plastic tumbler, I can smell the fruit even at 10 kilometres altitude. It's pleasant, welcoming and exactly what I hoped I might get in these circumstances.
It compares favourably to the flight out of London with Turkish Airlines where I was served a French country wine with no hint of the grapes used in production. At first sniff there was little, if anything, to humour the nostrils. I was a little disappointed. The wine was drinkable but not exciting at all. I am, please understand, only talking abbot the wine. The rest of the flight experience was absolutely fine with no complaints whatsoever.
The pinotage on this BA flight is worth a mention because it is actually reaching the senses and conveying a little of what we hope and expect from a glass of wine at odd times when confined, alert and trying hard to avoid mentally ticking away the minutes. The acidity is good in the mouth causing a little pucker of the lips. The fruit is attractive and light as we'd expect from a young wine; none of the complexities that age brings.
A good choice BA!
Post Script:
At meal time I opted for the merlot cabernet blend. This was a little unimpressionable at first but opened up nicely whilst I was talking to the lady next to me. The back label accurately describes "hints" of blackberry fruit which I think is probably quite accurate. Unfortunately, when flying, we need more than hints and nuance… we need a bit of punch and a little clout! So my tip is as was and remains… the pinotage!
Nick Breeze
@NickGBreeze
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