A brief visit to the First Class lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5 allowed for a delightful wine tasting experience featuring several exceptional selections.
Champagne Henriot Brut Souverain NV, France
This champagne was bright and juicy, showcasing vivid citrus notes complemented by a touch of toastiness. Its intriguing fruit character, balanced beautifully by dosage and acidity, provided a complex yet approachable profile. Score: 91/100.
Simonsig Chenin Avec Chêne 2017, Stellenbosch
This richer style of Chenin Blanc conveyed a full yellow hue with age. It presented toasty, nutty notes alongside pear and peach fruit, with a hint of boiled cabbage that somewhat added depth. The wine maintained freshness with apple and lemon notes. Score: 90/100.
Domaene Gobelsburg Riesling 2024, Kamptal, Austria
An enjoyable, presumably reasonably priced Kamptal Riesling. It featured stylish crystalline citrus fruit, peppered with pear and melon freshness. Its juicy, mineral quality and pleasant acidity promised an attractive experience. Score: 91/100.
Greywacke Wild Sauvignon 2022, Marlborough, New Zealand
This wine was particularly impressive, with peach and pear richness, and intriguing notes of melon and grapefruit. It succeeded in maintaining freshness while presenting a spicier complexity than typically expected from Marlborough Sauvignon. Score: 93/100.
Cloudline Pinot Noir 2022, Willamette Valley, Oregon
A robust choice from Oregon’s Drouhin estate, this Pinot Noir was floral with vibrant cherry and strawberry fruit and a touch of sour cherry on the finish. Juicy and well-balanced, it also carried a spicy kick. Score: 92/100.
Château Chauvin 2012, Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France
Now mature and drinking well, this wine exhibited notes of chalk, gravel, and earth beneath bold berry and plum fruits, along with a notable density and complexity. Score: 92/100.
Mullineux Syrah 2020, Swartland, South Africa
This wine offered a savory layer to bold cherry and plum flavors, incorporating meaty and spicy characteristics. While it was in a great drinking phase, it is not recommended for extended aging. Score: 93/100.
For those interested in exploring these selections in further detail, find more here: