L'Ecole No. 41

Today we share one of the great wines of Walla Walla. One of Washington’s oldest wineries, L’Ecole No. 41 is set at a historic schoolhouse outside the town of Walla Walla. Winemaker Marcus Rafanelli has been crafting a beautiful range of wines. Last year I had a chance to visit with him and GM Marty Clubb, as we tasted some older releases. These wines cellar so remarkably well.

The new wines this year have been consistently great, from concentrated Syrah to finesse-laden Rose. I love the new 2024 L’Ecole No. 41 Rose (OB, 92) which is soft, round and filled with finesse. Learn more about this outstanding winery at http://lecole.com/ Here are the great new wines by L’Ecole No. 41.

2024 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Alder Ridge Vineyard’ Rose- Coming from this south-facing ridge in the southern end of the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, the 2024 Rose offers juicy guava and watermelon flavors that mingle well with bright pear and copious minerals on the palate. This is seriously good stuff that is drinking marvelously now. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2024 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Yakima Valley’ Chenin Blanc- The seriously good ‘Yakima Valley’ Chenin Blanc is an ode to wines made 20 years ago. It is neatly-textured stuff with buttered brioche and salted pear flavors that combine with shades of cashew nut. Gorgeous now, enjoy this killer value over the next few years. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2024 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Frenchtown’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2024 L’Ecole No. 41 ‘Frenchtown’ Sauvignon Blanc comes from sites across the Columbia Valley. This is round and generous on the mouth with kiwi and gooseberry notes alongside shades of wet stone and green apple. Drink 2025-2030- 90

Bodega Lanzaga

Today we share the story of Bodega Lanzaga, founded by eminent winemaker Telmo Rodríguez. Bodega Lanzaga was founded back in 1998 with a radical mission to focus on small-parcel, small-production wines from places that speak to the essence of Rioja. The house sources from organically farmed vineyards in and around the villages of Lanciego (population: 650) and Labastida (population: 1,500).

Telmo Rodríquez was born into the family that owns and operates the Remelluri estate in Rioja. As a young man, he worked at Cos d’Estournel in Bordeaux, Chave in Hermitage, Clape in Cornas, and Beaucastel in Chateauneuf, before returning to his family winery. His new wines were fabulous. I love the 2020 ‘Lanzaga’ Rioja (OB, 93) which is dense and chewy with loads of dense dark fruits. Here are my reviews of the new Riojas from Bodega Lanzaga.

2021 Bodega Lanzaga ‘Corriente’ Rioja- The 2021 Bodega Lanzaga ‘Corriente’ Rioja offers a soft mouthfeel with loads of black and red fruits alongside salty minerals and herbal accents on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Bodega Lanzaga ‘LZ’ Rioja- A great blend of Tempranillo, Garnacha and Graciano, the 2022 ‘LZ’ offers dense red fruits that mingle well with chocolate, wet stone and coffee grounds on the palate. Nicely textured, this is really delicious to enjoy now.  Drink 2025-2031- 91

2020 Bodega Lanzaga ‘Lanzaga’ Rioja- The 2020 ‘Lanzaga’ Rioja comes from the Rioja Alavesa and was stored in oak barrels for 14 months before bottling. It comes off beautifully-textured with concentrated red currants, tobacco leaf and wild blackberry flavors that parade with milk chocolate on the palate. A decadent, delicious Rioja, made in the modern style, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

Chateau L'Escarelle

It has now been several years since I have visited the beautiful and expansive Chateau L’Escarelle. Located in the heart of Provence, and has 100 hectares of vines that flourish in their 1,000 hectares of beautiful countryside land. They even have world-class accommodations there that are a must visit for anyone who has never been to this remote and highly scenic part of Provence. I know I cannot wait to be back.

The estate itself dates back to the early 18th century as in the 20th century the estate was purchased by François Joseph Fournier, a Belgian adventurer who made his fortune in Mexico

and who already owned the island of Porquerolles. Then in 2014 the house was sold to current owner Yann Pineau who sought to make the land both biodiverse and organic. In 2016 the site was given a Level 3 (highest level) of agriculture certification by the French ministry.

I had a chance to taste the latest wines by this house and was once again amazed with the overall quality. I love the 2024 Chateau L’Escarelle ‘La Pacha' Rose (OB, 93) which is rich and viscous with really good flavor range. Learn more about this outstanding Provence house at https://www.escarelle.fr/?lang=en and here are my reviews of the beautiful Rose wines by Chateau L’Escarelle.

2024 Chateau L’Escarelle ‘Rumeurs’ Rose- The brilliant 2024 ‘Rumeurs’ offer brisk acidity alongside light red fruits with herbal accents and orange peel notes. Very saline-driven and minreal-laden, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2024 Chateau L’Escarelle ‘Le Pacha’ Rose- Named after a rare form of butterfly found on the estate, the 2024 ‘Le Pacha’ is a killer combination of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah and is a collaboration between Alice Pelestor (Cellar master) & Patrick Lobier (Wine grower). This complex wine is best served not too cold. A smooth texture greets you, as this comes off wonderfully earthy with stony minerals that combine with a fabulous core of melon and strawberry fruits alongside kumquat rind accents. The bright salinity of the wine shines through, as this will cellar well for another seven plus years. Drink 2025-2032- 93

Acumen

It is my pleasure to share the wines of Acumen, founded by Eric Yuan. Yuan utilizes the talents of winemaker Phillip Titus and renowned Viticulturist Garrett Buckland. His brand, Acumen Wines, has established an estate that features 116 organically certified acres of vines, spread across two vineyards on Napa Valley’s Atlas Peak. The Acumen team makes a small portfolio of estate-grown wines, with a focus on mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc as well as Sauvignon Blanc.

Acumen acquired its first vineyard on Atlas Peak in 2012. Originally planted in 1992, and featuring 32 acres of vines with a northeast exposure, the Attelas Vineyard was the ‘home vineyard’ of Dr. Jan Krupp, predating his famed Stagecoach Vineyard by three years. In 2014, Acumen expanded its estate program with the acquisition of the Edcora Vineyard, which features 84 acres of vines 350 feet higher up on Atlas Peak.

The new wines by Acumen were awesome. I love the 2022 Acumen Wines ‘Edcora Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which is rich and viscous with good verve considering the heat of the vintage.  Learn more at https://www.acumenwine.com. Here are my reviews of the new Acumen Wines.

2023 Acumen ‘Atlas Peak’ Sauvignon Blanc- The outstanding 2023 Acumen ‘Atlas Peak’ Sauvignon Blanc offers serious texture and verve on the palate, loaded with minerals, melon fruits and shades of starfruit with kumquat rind. Rich and fat on the tongue, this is seriously good stuff that will cellar well over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 94

2022 Acumen ‘Edcora Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon- Dense, heady and intense, the 2022 Acumen ‘Edcora Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon stands inky in the glass. Violets, tar and sweet tobacco leaf notes combine with blueberry compote on the nose. The palate is loaded with tension and flavor density with a silky mouthfeel and refined tannins. Enjoy this beauty now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2037- 95

Big Table Farm

Today we share one of the greats of the Willamette Valley. Big Table Farm was founded by Clare Carver and Brian Marcy — two of the great people in Oregon wine. Marcy has a longstanding history in the wine industry, formerly serving as winemaker for Neyers prior to moving north and settling in the Willamette Valley.These are wines that age brilliantly and are known for great texture and beautiful pure red and dark fruits, with loads of nuance. They will soon make wines from their estate vineyard.

This is amongst the finest Rose wines made in North America. I adore the complex, round and delicious 2024 Big Table Farm ‘Laughing Pig’ Rose (OB, 94) is a total stunner with gobs of flavor range, flavor density and underlying tension. Learn more about Big Table Farm at http://www.bigtablefarm.com/ Here are the fantastic new release wines by Big Table Farm.

2024 Big Table Farm ‘Laughing Pig’ Rose- Another sensational edition of this wine, the highly nuanced 2024 Laughing Pig’ Rose was stored in all neural oak barrels before bottling.  A beautiful watermelon color, this offers white rose water and orange peel notes on the nose with salty soils and shades of cranberry. The palate is beautifully astringent and intense, with serious texture and minerality, showing some fabulous earthy tones with peat moss and damp hay. The length impresses, as this lasts for a near-minute on the mouth. This is once again an incredibly showing in its mineral-laden youth. Drink 2025-2031- 94

2023 Big Table Farm ‘The Wild Bee’ Chardonnay- Sourced from a range of sites throughout the Willamette Valley, the 2023 ‘The Wild Bee’ offers toasted hazelnuts alongside rich melon and orchard fruits. The palate is smooth and silky with a refined mouthfeel and great sense of weight and length. Gorgeous now, watch this evolve over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2022 Big Table Farm ‘Elusive Queen’ Chardonnay- The outstanding 2023 ‘The Elusive Queen’ Chardonnay is a barrel selection wine made from less than 5% of their Chardonnay production. This is rich and opulent stuff that comes off exceedingly seamless throughout the drinking experience. Japanese pear and marzipan notes mingle well with cardamom laced pastry crust alongside ripe banana and papaya on the palate. Velvety and voluptuous, this is very dense and layered stuff that will cellar well for at least another ten years to come. Drink 2025-2037- 96

2023 Big Table Farm ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir- Amazing at the entry level, the 2023 Big Table Farm ‘Willamette Valley’ Pinot Noir delivers bright cranberry, guava and Yakima cherry fruit flavors alongside salty soils on the palate. Medium-bodied and exceedingly smooth, with good tension, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years to come. Drink 2025-2033- 93

2023 Big Table Farm ‘Pelos-Sandberg Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The amazing 2023 Big Table Farm ‘Pelos-Sandberg Vineyard’ Pinot Noir was sourced from this small location located in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. This captures brilliant flavor density with rich red fruits that parade with loamy soils, Satsuma orange zest, and suggestions of red rose water on the palate. Salty and very savory, with herbal and black truffle accents, enjoy now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2022 Big Table Farm ‘The Funk Estate Vineyard’ Syrah- A gorgeous wine from the Rocks District, the 2022 ‘The Funk Estate’ Syrah is a world-class wine from this slightly cooler vintage. On the nose this takes on wet rock aromas alongside pine needles, forest floor, Umami and suggestions of wild blackberry compote. The palate is plush and soft with a terrific tension and a gorgeous melange of red and dark fruits with Hoisin sauce and seaweed notes. Highly novel and complex, this is a stunning rendition of this wine. Drink 2025-2033- 96

2023 Big Table Farm ‘Earth’ Pinot Noir- The 2023 ‘Earth’ is a spectacular barrel selection bottling that has incredible flavor density, flavor range and underlying verve. A kaleidoscope of aromatics greets you as salty and sandy soils mingle well with black truffle shavings, peat moss and shades of Mandarin orange peel. The palate is plush and rich with amazing texture and richness. The finish just won’t quit as this is velvety and seductive stuff that is built to age. Drink 2025-2040- 96

Phelps Creek

One of the outstanding wineries in the Columbia Gorge, Phelps Creek produces a myriad of wines including tension-filled Gewurtztraminer and silky Pinot Noir. Founder Bob Morus serves as President and Director of Winegrowing. He moved to Hood River in 1989 with the expressed goal of raising both wine grapes and kids. The manages his estate vineyard consisting of 36 acres of vines planted mainly to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

I am really impressed with the latest few sets of releases that I have tasted from Phelps Creek. Lauren O’Brien serves as winemaker, having formerly served as enologist at K Vintners. The new wines were really good across the board. I love the 2024 Phelps Creek ‘Van Horn’ Riesling (OB, 93) which is filled with dazzling tension and great flavor range Learn more about these great new wines at https://www.phelpscreekvineyards.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Phelps Creek.

2024 Phelps Creek ‘Van Horn’ Riesling- The 2024 ‘Van Horn’ Riesling is made in the Trocken style, and this comes off ultra-dry with loads of tension and minerals alongside lemon rind and kiwi notes alongside wet stone. This is really well-made. Drink 2025-2030- 93

2024 Phelps Creek ‘Pioneer Block’ Riesling- Coming from their estate vineyard, the 2024 ‘Pioneer Block’ Riesling delivers white peach and star jasmine on the nose with gooseberry notes. Very dry, this is loaded with freshness and minerality and is best enjoyed in its vibrant youth. Drink 2025-2030- 92

2024 Phelps Creek ‘Gorge Crest’ Gewurtztraminer- The gorgeous 2024 Phelps Creek ‘Gorge Crest’ Gewurtztraminer shows starfruit and pink grapefruit blossom on the nose with ripe peaches. This is clean and fresh wine that has the faintest kiss of sweetness. Drink 2025-2030- 92

2023 Phelps Creek ‘Columbia Gorge’ Pinot Gris- The 2023 Phelps Creek ‘Columbia Gorge’ Pinot Gris offers cashew nut, ripe melon and figs on the palate alongside good tension. Offering solid weight, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2024 Phelps Creek ‘Fleur de Rot’ Pinot Noir Rose- The excellent 2024 Phelps Creek ‘Fleur de Rot’ Pinot Noir Rose delivers white rose water and delicate red fruits on the palate, with copious minerals and a smooth texture. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2024 Phelps Creek ‘Le Petit’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Le Petit’ offers juicy strawberry and red cherry flavors. Forward, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 89

2022 Phelps Creek ‘Lynette’ Chardonnay- The 2022 ‘Lynette’ saw extended tirage on the lees. White peach and juicy pear mark the nose alongside shades of cardamom and pie crust. The palate is soft and refined with good elegant and a smooth mouthfeel. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2022 Phelps Creek ‘Corduroy’ White Pinot Noir- A delicious new bottling, the 2022 Phelps Creek ‘Corduroy’ White Pinot Noir is smooth and delicious on the mouth, loaded with nutty tones that combine with green papaya, mango and shades of wet stone. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2022 Phelps Creek ‘Homestead’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Phelps Creek ‘Homestead’ Pinot Noir comes off rich and burly, loaded with bright raspberry and bing cherry flavors that meld well with damp earth and shades of salty soils. Drink 2025-2032- 92

Aridus

For many years now I have been impressed with the wines of Aridus. The winery is family-owned and is located in southeastern Arizona. Founded in 2012 the winery refurbished a 28,000 square foot apple warehouse which had been built in 1982. It is one of the largest winery facilities in the state. They have a 40 acre site for their estate vineyard along Turkey Creek in Pearce, AZ which they have owned since 2009. At 5,200 feet in elevation, the site has warm days and cool nights. A range of varieties have been planted there including Viognier and Tempranillo.

I love the new 2021 Aridus Cabernet Franc (OB, 91) which is marvelously smooth and herbal and delicious stuff to enjoy now. Learn more about these exciting wines at https://www.ariduswineco.com and here are the new releases by Aridus.

2023 Aridus Malvasia Bianca- The 2023 Aridus Malvasia Bianca comes off a touch sweet with ripe peaches and lychee flavors alongside decent tension. Drink 2025-2030- 88

2023 Aridus Sauvignon Blanc- The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc delivers a smooth mouthfeel with sweetened pear and nectarine flavors. Drink 2025-2030- 88

2021 Aridus Tempranillo- Juicy and ripe, the 2021 Aridus Tempranillo offers toffee, black plum and black cherry flavors alongside refined texture and tannin structure. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2021 Aridus Cabernet Franc- This is beautifully balanced Cabernet Franc that is a joy to consume right now. Smooth on the mouth, this shows tobacco leaf and green herbs that combine with medium bodied dark fruits and chocolate notes. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2022 Aridus Malbec- The 2022 Aridus Malbec offers chocolate and dried herbs on the nose alongside blackberry compote. The palate is plush and soft with a smooth mouthfeel. Enjoy now. Drink 2025-2030- 90

2022 Aridus Graciano- The 2022 Graciano delivers loads of black plum and dark cherry notes alongside chocolate fudge and Arabica bean. Gorgeous to enjoy now, sip this over the next six plus years. Drink 2025-2031- 92

Walla Walla Vintners

One of Walla Walla’s historic wineries, Walla Walla Vintners are owned by Scott and Nici Haladay, were first introduced to Walla Walla Vintners in 2017. Already familiar with the historic winery, they are the new owners of this house and their Cut Bank Estate vineyard. Scott comes from a technology background and Nici is a licensed nurse. I can’t wait to see their new winery space which has been recently completed.

Winemaker Derrek Vipond is a is a native Washingtonian who started his career at Walla Walla Community College in the Enology and Viticulture program. After completing his education with a degree from Oregon State University in Fermentation Science, Derrek worked several harvests across the globe before eventually moving back to Walla Walla and joining Walla Walla Vintners in January 2019.  Derrek learned a great deal from eminent winemaker Gilles Nicault.The wines he make are excellent as the quality of this house continues to build.

I loved the last set of his wines and the new wines are brilliant. Don’t miss the 2022 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 95) which has to be one of the finest wines ever produced by this house. Learn more about these great new releases at https://wallawallavintners.com Here are my reviews of the new wines by Walla Walla Vintners. 

2024 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Columbia Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc- The outstanding 2024 ‘Columbia Valley’ Sauvignon Blanc delivers serious texture and weight, loaded with kiwi, gooseberry and melon fruits, with plenty of stony minerals. Medium-bodied and fresh, enjoy now and over the next few years to come. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2024 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2024 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Les Collines Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc delivers walnut and mango tones on the nose alongside peaches and white grapefruit blossom. Sturdy and well-structured, with a core of citrus and melon fruits, this is drinking brilliantly right now. Drink 2025-2031- 92

2022 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Bello Rosso’ Red Wine- Coming from the acclaimed Seven Hills Vineyard, the 2022 ‘Bello Rosso’ is near equal parts Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Tobacco and black cherry combine with salty minerals and refined tannins on the palate. Very herbal and complex, enjoy now and over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 93

2022 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Alera’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Alera’ is mainly Melrot (70%), offering green herbs and chocolate on the nose alongside suggestions of dark currant compote. The palate is plush and loaded with red and dark fruits, with chocolate and espresso bean accents alongside a wintergreen edge. Very complex and delightful in its heady youth, enjoy over the next decade or more. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2022 Walla Walla Vintners ‘Old Vines’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A brilliant edition of this wine, the 2022 ‘Old Vines’ was sourced from the Bacchus Vineyard which was planted back in 1972. Inky in the glass, this offers beautiful flavor density and complexity. Milk chocolate and pipe tobacco mingle well with fresh sage, and salty soils. This is absolutely fantastic stuff that will cellar well for decades. Drink 2025-2040- 95

Prospice

Happy Friday to you all. An outstanding Walla Walla house founded by Jay Krutulis and Matt Reilly, Prospice is located in the Airport District. Jay and Matt both had successful careers before starting a winery together. I tasted with them earlier in the year and we talked about how they have been honing in on their winemaking style — one that produces highly structured wine, with some good aging potential. Prospice will sadly be winding down this year.

They are also producing some killer values. I love the 2022 Prospice ‘Meravina’ Red Wine (OB, 943 which is rich and beautifully structured stuff. Learn more at prospicewines.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Prospice.

2021 Prospice ‘Meravina’ Red Wine- Mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (56%) this delivers a silky mouthfeel with bright red and dark fruits that meld well with sweet pipe tobacco and chocolate. Well-structured, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 91

2022 Prospice ‘Meravina’ Red Wine- A Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend (39%) with a large portion of Merlot (33%), this delivers a smooth mouthfeel, loaded with bright bing cherry, dark currants and tobacco leaf flavors alongside good tension. Drink 2025-2035- 93

REVIEW: Qatar Airways Al-Safwa Lounge, A Stunning, World-Class Lounge

An absolutely stunning architectural marvel, Al-Safwa Lounge in Doha is truly one of the great airport lounges of the world. I made my way to the lounge following my first class flight from Dubai. Not only was the hospitality and service world-class but the overall experience is one of total relaxation. You feel like you are in another world being here — whether it is their iconic water feature that centers the structure, their spa, their quiet rooms or their top-notch dining — this lounge quite simply has it all. I think that this experience absolutely rivals the Emirates First Lounge in Dubai. I was reminded of how much United States lounges can learn from the tremendous hospitality exhibited at Doha’s Hamad International Airport.

ACCESS

Very exclusive, you can only access this illustrious lounge if you are flying First Class, Privilege Club Platinum members travelling Business Class with Qatar Airways and oneworld First Class passengers. The lounge is on the south part of Terminal 1 right by the B gates. The experience is like staying at a 5-star hotel or dining at a Michelin 1 star restaurant.

Here I am with my delightful NV Philipponat Rose Champagne.

Traveling with my daughter and wife, we made our way to the formal dining area and I immediately ordered a glass of the NV Philipponat Rose Champagne which is a blend of 73% Pinot Noir, with the reminder Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Astringent and light, with tart red fruits, this was a delightful start to my dining experience.

The menu is just incredible with some amazing options.

In the dining room and throughout my stay at Al-Safwa, the staff were so inviting to my family and treated my two year old daughter so well. We were the only family dining with little kids and each staff member deftly managed this as she was tired from her travels. They were always asking to refill our drink or clearing our food quickly. Food was served with an impeccable cadence.

I ordered a range of appetizers immediately so we could taste a range of options. I think that for me, this was the finest airport lounge dining experience that I have ever had, ahead of the Emirates First lounge or the Qantas First lounge. The highlight was absolutely the poached lobster with coconut and lemongrass sauce which was cooked to perfection. It was so fresh you thought it was caught that day. The seared Wagyu beef carpaccio was melt-in your mouth delicious. But the big surprise was the spicy Hong Kong beef soup, which was so wonderfully tangy, with a myriad of flavors. Hats off to the chefs for creating some incredible dishes. Outside of the restaurant there was a full-sized bar that was also very beautiful. It was the centerpiece of the room. While I didn’t order any cocktails, the list looked very enticing.

For my main course I opted for the healthier choice, the seared salmon with a spicy sauce. The sauce was incredible and the salmon was wonderfully fresh and soft. It is never easy to get airport salmon correct but this was absolutely nailed. I had a few more bites of my Arabic mezze plate which was also fabulous. You also left this meal feeling invigorated rather than bloated.

I headed out to check out the bathrooms. They were expansive, very clean and nobody was using them. I really enjoyed that they use the Diptyque Paris products which are the same that you find in the Ritz-Carlton hotels in the United States. You are pampered going to the bathroom here.

It is hard not to marvel in the architectural beauty of Doha’s Museum of Islamic Art. They have ancient pottery and relics — pieces of history that you won’t find at any airport lounge in the world. The lounge is extremely large, cavernous and open with beautiful sandstone features everywhere. The lounge also has their exclusive Duty-Free in the lounge as well as a cinematic media room. I visited the spa area which you can book massages, mani/pedi or use their hot tub. Prices are reasonable for the services at $50.000 USD for a facial and $110 USD for a 50-minute full body massage. These spa experiences are what you see in a world-class airport lounge. There are also rooms that you can stay for several hours in with beds and televisions.

Our child was extremely tired so we retreated as a family to the family rooms where people can go to rest and our two year-old could cry and wail for 30 minutes. Despite the thundering noise coming from our daughter, the staff were brilliant and did not complain at all. I give them full credit for knowing exactly how to handle this situation. We all rested for about an hour before making our way to our plane.

BOTTOM LINE:

This is a WOW-factor lounge. I won’t forget my first visit to the First Class Al-Safwa lounge in Doha. It is truly one of the best lounges in the world. It is spacious, opulent and exudes class. Some frequent flyers have been complaining about the sterile nature of the lounge. I don’t see that at all. The staff were incredibly inviting and there are so many activities for you to indulge in when visiting Al-Safwa.

This is a work of art — an architectural marvel. If you don’t marvel in this space, I don’t think you will be impressed with any airport lounge in the world. Service was amazing here and the food and beverage quality was top-notch. They could have had a finer champagne selection but the ones they served were very good. Decor was stunning, food quality was Michelin One Star worthy. I simply can’t wait to be back at Al-Safwa.

Antinori 'Tignanello' Red Wine

Having returned from Tuscany, it is such a pleasure to write about one of the great wines of the world, the Antinori ‘Tignanello’ Red Wine. A wine with a marvelous history, the Antinori family remarkably dates back to over six centuries ago, back in 1385 when Giovanni di Piero Antinori became a member of the "Arte Fiorentina dei Vinattieri," the Florentine Winemaker’s Guild. Remarkably since then the Antinori family has managed the business making a range of innovative developments. Albiera Antinori serves as president of Marchesi Antinori with the continuous close support of her two sisters, Allegra and Alessia. Marchese Piero Antinori, is the current Honorary President of the company. 

The Antinori ‘Tignanello’ was first produced in 1971 and released commercially in 1974. The wine's initial blend, a departure from traditional Chianti Classico standards, included Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc, making it one of the first to utilize these varietals and barrel-aging techniques.

I loved the last two releases of this wine. They are different animals, the ’21 ‘Tignanello’ (OB, 98) being much more evolved right now. The ’22 ‘Tignanello’ (OB, 99) flirts with perfection and is very hedonistic, dense and delicious wine. It is easily going to age for twenty years to come. Learn more about this storied wine and house at https://www.antinori.it/en/vino/tignanello-en/ and here are my reviews of the 2021 and 2022 ‘Tignanello’ wines.

2021 Antinori ‘Tignanello’ Red Wine- A totally mesmerizing warm vintage wine, the 2021 ‘Tignanello’ is comprised of mainly Sangiovese (79%) with the remainder 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc. The nose is gorgeous with plush dark fruits that parade with bay leaf and cardamom alongside shades of tar and damp earth. Smooth and polished during the drinking experience, it is mesmerizing how well this is drinking in its heady youth. Beautifully-textured and rich with a voluptuous mouthfeel, enjoy this stunning 2021 wine now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 98

2022 Antinori ‘Tignanello’ Red Wine- A slightly different breed than the ’21, the 2022 Antinori ‘Tignanello’ Red Wine really needs about an hour in the decanter to get going. I enjoyed this wine on five occasions while staying in Firenze and each time I noticed how the wine began to slowly evolve after an hour. It is even more heady and intense than the ’21, with a seamless texture and polished tannins that frame a gorgeous core of creme de violette, cassis, loamy soils and suggestions of sweet pipe tobacco on the palate. A total head-turning bottling, make sure to give this a lot of air if enjoying in its heady youth. Drink 2026-2046- 99

Rhys Vineyards

It is my pleasure to share some of California’s most outstanding, tnsion-filled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Following in the esteemed lines of Ridge and Mount Eden, Rhys Vineyards produces from some extreme vineyard sites that has slopes which range up to a 40% grade.

The founder of Rhys Vineyards, Kevin Harvey, had a successful software career prior to stating his winery. He began planting Pinot Noir in his backyard near the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA and has had his first vintage in 2004. These are amazing new wines by Rhys from the warm 2022 vintage. The wines show a marvelous combination of body, flavor density and beautiful tension throughout the drinking experience.

I particularly love the 2022 Rhys ‘Mt. Pajaro’ Chardonnay (OB, 95) which is a knockout, fresh bottling with plenty of body. Learn more about this incredible new lineup of wines at https://rhysvineyards.com Here are the exciting new wines by Rhys Vineyards

2022 Rhys Vineyard ‘Mt. Pajaro Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Another outstanding edition of this wine, the 2022 Rhys Vineyard ‘Mt. Pajaro Vineyard’ Chardonnay comes from this Santa Cruz Mountains location that has a strong ocean influence from Monterrey Bay. Vines are set on shallow clay soils. The combination of weight and tension really shines, as rich melon and Meyer lemon cream flavors mingle well with oyster shell and shades of lychee and Macadamia nut on the palate. Drink 2025-2035- 95

2022 Rhys ‘Horseshoe Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- A gorgeous wine from this warmer vintage, the 2022 Rhys ‘Horseshoe Vineyard’ Pinot Noir was sourced from 13 different clonal selections, as this was stored for 18 months in French oak before bottling. Wafts of black truffle shavings and wild blackberry combine with tobacco and damp soils on the nose. The palate is plush and lively with bright acidity despite the obvious heat of the vintage. Offering great length, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2022 Rhys ‘Mt. Pajaro Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The brilliant 2022 Rhys ‘Mt. Pajaro Vineyard’ comes from this location set on rocky soils. Stored for 18 months in French oak, this has beautiful freshness and verve, with a knockout combination of black and red florals on the nose alongside salty soil and rich dark fruit accents. The palate is plush and seamless with great flavor density and bright acidity that brings you back to the glass for more enjoyment. Drink 2025-2040- 95

REVIEW: Qatar Airways First Class Dubai To Doha

I was massively impressed with my first time flying Qatar Airways First Class from Dubai to Doha. It was only an hour in the sky but a marvelous sixty minutes, indeed. Service and the experience was nothing short of top notch. I quite frankly cannot wait to be back in the sky for another first class experience with Qatar Airways.

There is currently a small amount of first class routes flown by Qatar Airways including A380 routes to Doha, London, Paris, Bangkok and Sydney as well as Boeing 777 first-class is available on routes between Doha and Male (MLE) and Doha and Hong Kong (HKG). 

I started my journey with my family in the lounge in Dubai which was a great breakfast and overall experience prior to the flight. We were flying late morning and I finally made my way through the jet bridge and onto our airplane, sitting down in row 1.

The cabin is a 2-2-2 format with very large seating. Everything was incredibly clean and well-kept even though this is obviously an older plane. I think that the service throughout the flight was nothing short of world-class. The flight attendant really did make this experience special.

We started our flight with a bottle of NV Taittinger Rose which was a beautiful beginning. This was a killer pre-flight drink to start our day with.

While a bit dated, the seat was very clean and had a ton of leg room. It was wide and comfortable. We pushed back and I opted for a second glass of the dazzling Rose champagne. The seat had a good amount of storage. Being 6’4’’I always love having a lot of leg room. The seat was incredibly comfortable for my height and frame. It was a seat that is on the softer side but there was plenty of support for my back and legs.

I was also served some Arabic coffee and a date. The coffee was exceptionally good with a literal cornucopia of spices.

They had a really nice range of beverages available for such a short flight.

I opted for the mezze plate that was immediately served to me. It isn’t easy serving food on a one-hour flight but the staff did an incredibly good job with cadence. The food quality was really fabulous.

I know that Qatar Airways is really well-known for food quality and catering. These were all so varied and flavorful. They also brought out a great tray of mixed nuts for me to enjoy.

It was one of those flights where you didn’t really want to get off the plane. Flying with my wife and two year old, they were both really enjoying their service and food experience as well. The stuff did so brilliantly with our daughter and it made my wife and I feel even more comfortable.

BOTTOM LINE:

This was a seriously impressive flight. It was an hour long which was incredibly short but the flight attendants did a A+ job somehow making each of the passengers feel special and cared for. This is incredibly divergent from my experience on countless one hour flights with Alaska Airlines. This is really a solid First Class product that has great food and wine served to you by staff that really care about your needs. They did a beautiful job with our two year old, making her feel cared for as well. I am honestly already dreaming about my next First Class adventure aboard Qatar Airways.

Iterum

When I met Joe Dobbes at a wine tasting recently we caught up and he shared his new story in wine. I hadn’t seen Joe for several years and he has been busy working on his new winery since the sale of Dobbes and Wines By Joe — two Oregon wine brands that were both wildly successful.

Joe Dobbes has been growing vines at his Orchard House estate and now makes wine from his home vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Dobbes has a longstanding history in the industry which began in the mid-80s in West Germany as an apprentice at Weingut Erbhof Tesch. He then trained in France under Christope Roumier of Domaine G. Roumier and Dominque Lafon of Domaine des Comptes Lafon before returning to Oregon, with stints at Elk Cove and others.

The Orchard House estate was purchased in 2018 and the site has Sauvignon Blanc which was first planted in 2021. The wines were seriously good across the board. They are making some of the best Sauvignon Blanc in Oregon. I adored the 2024 ‘Oak Grove Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc (OB, 92) which is really complex and big on the mouth with serious volume. I loved the single clonal wines from his estate but the best wine I tasted was one that combined two vineyards. The 2021 ‘Eola Bench’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) has magical flavor complexity and is just such a joy to drink right now. Learn more about this outstanding house at https://iterumwines.com/ and here are my reviews of the new Iterum wines.

2019 Iterum ‘Orchard House Vineyard’ Blanc de Blancs Sparkling Wine- Creamy and soft on the mouth, the 2019 ‘Blanc de Blancs’ is very astringent, showing loads of minerality on the palate. Lemon rind and shades of gooseberry fill the palate alongside loads of mouth-watering acidity. Refined and elegant, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 91

2020 Iterum ‘Orchard House Vineyard’ Sparkling Rose- Made from Pinot Noir grapes, the 2020 Rose delivers loads of bright red fruits that parade with salty minerals and nutty accents on the palate. Elegant and smooth with bright acidity, enjoy now. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2024 Iterum ‘Orchard House Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- The 2024 Iterum ‘Orchard House Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc comes off fresh and smooth with bright acidity. Pear and green apple notes combine with honeysuckle water and shades of green melon on the palate. Drink 2025-2031- 91

2024 Iterum ‘Old Friend Oak Grove Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc- The really good 2024 Iterum ‘Old Friend Oak Grove Vineyard’ Sauvignon Blanc comes off fat and round on the mouth with a terrific sense of mouthfeel and texture. Ripe papaya and orchard fruits parade with lemon rind and white tea accents on the palate. Drink 2025-2033- 92

2021 Iterum ‘Arlyn Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The really good 2021 Iterum ‘Arlyn Vineyard’ Chardonnay is soft and mineral-laden on the mouth, loaded with bright pear and peaches alongside lime zest, salty soils and shades of pie crust on the palate. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2021 Iterum ‘Orchard House Estate Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Very elegant, the sensational 2021 Iterum ‘Orchard House Estate Vineyard’ Chardonnay delivers a seamless mouthfeel, loaded with tension and salty minerals on the mid-palate. Rich honeydew melon and Japanese pear flavors combine with baking spices and shades of cashew nut on the palate. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2021 Iterum ‘Eola Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Eola Springs Vineyard’ comes from these older Pinot Noir plantings in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. This comes off silky smooth, dense and complex, with layers of red currants and wild blackberry woven together with salty soils and orange zest on the palate. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2021 Iterum ‘Qualhurst Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- coming from the Chelahem Mountains AVA, this 2021 Pinot Noir offers concentrated boysenberry and black cherry flavors that mingle well with salt dusted tangerine, and shades of black truffle crudo. Very complex, neatly textured and generous, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2021 Iterum ‘Arlyn Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Coming from old plantings of Pinot Noir, the 2021 ‘Arlyn Vineyard’ delivers damp soils and wet rock alongside wild blackberry and shades of white pepper on the nose. The palate is seamless and soft, as this is already drinking beautifully now at the four year mark. Medium to full-bodied, and loaded with texture alongside bright acidity, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2021 Iterum ‘Clone 114 Orchard House Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- All clone 114, this 2021 Pinot Noir comes off very pretty with red rose petals that connect well with intense red fruits and shades of kumquat zest on the nose. The palate is equally pretty and soft with a great sense of tension and mouthfeel. Gorgeous now, watch this elegant Pinot Noir evolve over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2021 Iterum ‘Clone 115 Orchard House Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The outstanding 2021 Iterum ‘Clone 115 Orchard House Vineyard’ Pinot Noir shows off pretty red florals on the nose with pastry crust, damp salty earth and fresh sage. The palate is bright and juicy, loaded with pomegranate, strawberry, red cherry and red raspberry fruit flavors. Easy-drinking and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2038- 94

2021 Iterum ‘Eola Bench Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2021 ‘Eola Bench Vineyard’ comes from 40% from their Orchard House Vineyard and 60% from Symonette Vineyard which is down the hill fro the Iterum estate. This is marvelous in terms of flavor density and flavor range, showing wafts of white truffle and salty/rocky soils which mingle well with a fabulous melange of red and dark fruits, with methol and orange peel accents. Complex and delicious to enjoy now, enjoy over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2038- 95

Elk Cove

I’ll never forget that afternoon in Hawaii enjoying Elk Cove Pinot Gris. It was quite frankly a perfect wine for the occasion. A fantastic Oregon wine brand, Elk Cove is truly a family affair. Growing up the five Campbell children helped work in the vineyards at Elk Cove. Adam Campbell took a special interest and stayed close to home for college, attending Lewis & Clark and spending summers on the bottling line. Upon graduation he joined the business year-round to learn the craft of winemaking from his parents. Adam is now responsible for making Elk Cove’s wines. He now oversees six vineyard sites with 380 planted acres. I loved the new wines across the board. The 2023 Elk Cove Pinot Blanc (OB, 91) is fresh and vibrant with a great texture. I adored the 2022 Elk Cove ‘La Boheme’ Pinot Noir (OB, 96) which is the finest edition of this wine that I have ever tasted. It will be an exceedingly long-ager. Learn more about these outstanding wines at elkcove.com and here are my reviews of the new wines by Elk Cove.

2023 Elk Cove Pinot Blanc- The 2023 Elk Cove Pinot Blanc was sourced from old vines that are up to nearly 30 years of age. Kiwi, starfruit and green papaya flavors mingle well with a smooth texture and racy acidity on the palate. Drink 2025-2030- 91

2022 Elk Cove ‘Roosevelt’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Elk Cove ‘Roosevelt’ Pinot Noir delivers plenty of salty minerals alongside juicy guava, red currant and wild strawberry fruit flavors, with orange zest and shades of bergamot on the palate. Fresh and neatly-textured, with bright underlying acidity, enjoy now and over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2025-2037- 93

2022 Elk Cove ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir- The briliant 2022 Elk Cove ‘Reserve’ Pinot Noir is a dazzling new release that is both polished, seamless and full of underlying verve. On the mouth this comes up fat and generous, with plenty of underlying finesse. A great complement of red and dark fruits greet you on the palate, with volcanic soils, red rose water and Satsuma orange zest, with shades of Nori. Complex, beautifully-textured and broad-shouldered, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2022 Elk Cove ‘La Boheme’ Pinot Noir- The 2022 Elk Cove ‘La Boheme’ comes from their estate La Boheme Vineyard. Vines at this site are nearly 40 years old. This is is a total knockout wine that has so much cellaring potential. On the nose this takes on red rose petals with linzer torte, white pepper and wafts of salty/rocky soils. The palate is plush and refined with a smooth texture and great sense of mouthfeel. Very salty and savory, with a gorgeous core of red and dark fruits, enjoy now and over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2025-2042- 96

VIADER

Today we share the brilliant wines of VIADER. A great story of hard work and dedication, Delia Viader only made one wine, a Bordeaux style blend, since 1986. Holding a PhD from Sorbonne University in Paris, founding winemaker Delia Viader founded Viader decades ago and was an amazing success amongst consumers and wine critics alike. Today her son, Alan, produces some brilliant red blends that are entirely sourced from their estate vineyard on Howell Mountain. A remarkable story, Delia stated VIADER while raising four children on her own. Since starting the winery she was met with some incredible critical acclaim for her pretty style of wine that typically incorporates a large amount of Cabernet Franc.

I have loved these wines over 20 plus years. Delia’s son, Alan, served as VIADER vineyard manager since 2002 while studying winemaking at UC Davis. He has been lead winemaker at VIADER since 2006 and works with Delia on all wines. I am enamored by the 2022 VIADER Red Wine (OB, 97) which is a world-class wine from this hot vintage. Learn more about this storied Napa winery at https://viader.com Here are the beautiful new wines by VIADER.

2022 VIADER ‘Estate Limited Edition’ Red Wine- The 2022 ‘Estate Limited Edition’ is mainly Cabernet Sauvignon (48%) and Syrah (33%) with the reminder Malbec and Cabernet Franc. This truly unique red blend really needs about 30 minutes in the decanter to be fully aroused. This shows massive depth and really good structure despite the obvious heat of the vintage.  Pencil lead and iodine notes combine with mocha, tar, and heady dark fruits. Elegant and refined, with firm tannins, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2040- 95

2022 VIADER Red Wine - The brilliant 2022 Viader Red Wine has a small portion of Cabernet Sauvignon (64%) and more Cabernet Franc (36%) than the ’21 bottling. A total gem, this needs about an hour in the decanter to really get moving. Anise and wet rock mark the nose alongside dark chocolate shavings, sweet pipe tobacco, violets and shades of yellow bell pepper. The palate has beautiful elegance as this glides throughout the drinking experience, with firm tannins holding everything in place. Loamy and rocky soils collide with dense blackberry and black cherry flavors alongside shades of Black Forest cake. A total stunner, enjoy now and over the next twenty plus years. Drink 2025-2049- 97

Frescobaldi

It is just remarkable that the The Frescobaldi family have been producing wine in Tuscany for seven hundred years, beginning in the early 1300s. Their impact in Florence was built upon controlling key guilds, notably the Arte della Lana (wool guild), the Arte di Calimala (guild of foreign cloth merchants and finishers), and the Cambio (money exchange).

The Frescobaldi family began producing Tuscan wine in 1308 and quickly established an esteemed clientele. An intriguing historical detail from 1308 includes a documented exchange where Michelangelo Buonarroti traded his artwork for Frescobaldi wine. Additionally, the Frescobaldis supplied wine to King Henry VIII of England; surviving contracts in the family archives bear the English king's signature.

Lamberto Frescobaldi is now the 30th generation at the helm. In 2016, he was elected Vice President of Unione Italiana Vini, Italy's leading federation of winemakers, becoming its President in 2022. His house produces a range of wines including Brunello di Montalciino and Chianti Classico. I really enjoyed these wines, particularly the 2018 Frescobaldi ‘Castel Giocondo’ Brunello di Montalcino (OB, 92) which is a great showing right now and is drinking marvelously in its smooth mouthfeel. Learn more about this storied house at https://www.frescobaldi.com/en/history and here are my reviews on the new Frescobaldi wines.

2018 Frescobaldi ‘Castel Giocondo’ Brunello di Montalcino- The really good 2018 Frescobaldi ‘Castel Giocondo’ Brunello di Montalcino is showing brilliantly now at the seven year mark. Soft upon entry, this delivers red rose water and wild blackberry flavors that combine with shades of wild strawberry and Arabica bean notes on the palate. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2021 Frescobaldi ‘Tenuta Perano’ Chianti Classico- Dusty tannins combine with beautiful red roses and red currants on the nose. The palate is soft and elegant with juicy acidity and a bright core of red fruits. Drink 2025-2031- 90

2021 Frescobaldi ‘Castello Nipozzano’ Sangiovese- The 2022 ‘Castello Nipozzano’ Red Wine delivers damp soils and orange peel notes on the nose with roasted figs. The palate is smooth and nicely textured, with a great amalgamation of red and dark fruits, alongside coffee ground accents. Drink 2025-2031- 91

Bodegas Vilano

Today we share some of the outstanding wines of the Ribera del Duero. Bodegas Vilano produces a range of wines from their estate vineyard in the Ribera del Duero — having vines there that have reached 100 years of age. Vilano is a cooperative that began in 1957. More than 300 hectares of vineyard and an annual production of 2 million kilos of grapes located in Pedrosa de Duero, (Burgos), one of the privileged areas traditionally devoted to grow high quality vineyards.Bodegas Viña Vilano S. Coop. owns more than 300 hectares of vineyards of the variety “Tinta Fina” or “Tinta del País” (Tempranillo) and a potential annual production of 2 million kg. of high quality grapes.They make a range of wines including a Rosado, Tinto Joven, Roble, Crianza, Reserva and Signature wines are part of the portfolio of Vilano. Wine ageing process is carried out in American, French and Central Europe oak barrels.

The new Riberas were really good. I love the 2020 ‘Reserva’ (OB, 93) which is dense and chewy stuff with a great acid backbone. Learn more at vilano.com and here are my reviews of the Ribera del Dueros by Bodegas Vilano.

2022 Legon ‘Crianza’ Ribera del Duero- The 2022 ‘Crianza’ was stored in a combination of French and American oak barrels. It offers light to medium bodied tar, scorched earth and dusty soil accents alongside a broad core of dark fruits and milk chocolate. Fresh and neatly textured, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2032- 92

2021 Legon ‘Premium’ Ribera del Duero- The 2021 ‘Premium’ Ribera del Duero comes from estate vines ranging to 100 years of age. It is lush and soft on the mouth, showing nice citrus peel accents alongside a great core of black and red fruits. Damp soil accents round out this beautiful wine that will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2025-2035- 92

2020 Legon ‘Reserva’ Ribera del Duero- The 2020 ‘Reserva’ comes from old-vine Tempranillo on their estate property. Aged for 20 months in French oak barrels, this delivers refined tannins that frame a great core of blackberry, black cherry and coffee ground flavors. Delicious wine to savor now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-2035- 93

REVIEW: BRITISH AIRWAYS BUSINESS CLASS CLUB SUITES LONDON TO SEATTLE

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of flying Business Class in the Club Suites from London to Seattle with my family. Yes, my 2 year old even enjoyed her own Club Suite! I have found that over the past few years the Club Suite with BA offers a really solid hard and soft product for consumers. It all began with some champagne and food in the First Lounge in Terminal 5 at London Heathrow. The NV Besserat de Bellefon Rose was a marvelous choice at roughly 50 dollars USD and available in the business lounge. This is one of the better wines I have had in a business lounge over the past year. The first lounge was very full but I was able to access with my One World Emerald Status.

This outstanding Rose champagne was loaded with tart cranberry and salmonberry notes. I used the bathroom in the First Lounge and was impressed that BA had moved to using Elemins products. The bathrooms were essentially identical to what you find in the Corcorde Room. It was a great way to start the day off. Roughly an hour before the flight began they opened the gate so we departed for gate B35. They immediately boarded us although we had to wait for 20 minutes to get everything set with their cabin and crew.

The flight attendants were operating with a totally full flight. This made things go slightly slower than normal but I was still impressed with the cadence of the service that was provided. Cabin crew also had a very short turnaround as they were going to spend roughly 24 hours in Seattle before returning to London. It isn’t easy operating a totally full cabin, doing starters and mains, as well as drinks. Overall, the crew did their best to serve my family in a timely fashion. The attitude of the crew was also fantastic, never pressing or stressing the customer and always gracious in responding to questions or requests. This was a firm reminder that I was not flying a domestic Business Class flight and it was typical great BA service with a smile.

As you can see here that the actual seat is pretty polished, with terrific trim and modern design. Seats are both stylish and functional. There are small storage areas and great looking wood trim. The lie flat seat is really a game-changer for someone who is over 6’4’’ like me. The seat itself was well-made and was firm which made me feel well-supported throughout the flight. The divider between the seats makes things seem really comfortable, quiet and private.

The amenity kit comes with some lotions and creams. It is not the best product, Qatar or Emirates obviously offers much more for a business class amenity kit. These were all functional products with a decent eye mask and socks. Headphone quality was adequate, and we had to switch headphones as mind didn’t work initially. The flight attendant immediately presented us with a pre-flight Champagne which brightened this Club Suites experience immediately. I had a chance to visit the food menu and wine list.

I tried a range of the foods on the menu and found the quality to be outstanding, nearing the quality that you would have in the first class cabin. Both the chicken and salmon were beautifully prepared and delicious, with loads of flavor. I particularly enjoyed the chicken herb jus which made the dish really sing with flavor. The chicken was tender and not overcooked which is absolutely difficult to do in a business class cabin. Kudos to the culinary team for doing such a good job pre-flight on this dish.

The prawn salad was well-crafted and the prawns themselves were not fishy at all. This was a beautifully-presented dish. I thought that the soup was even better.

I’ll admit this dish doesn’t look like much but the flavors inside were bursting with concentrated red peppers. The crunchy croutons on top really helped make this dish in terms of texture. For a business class soup, this is without a doubt one of the tastiest I have ever had at 30K feet.

As you can see here the chicken was garnished with peas and chanterelle mushrooms. For a business class chicken dish, this is undoubtedly one of the best I have ever tasted. The wild mushrooms gave this an earthy kick and the chicken was marvelously juicy. I don’t know quite how they did this. Potatoes were very buttery and creamy.

The wine list has several good options, particularly with sparkling wine. The NV Nicolas Feuilatte is a decent entry level champagne and also the world’s best selling champagne. I preferred the NV Digby which spent a lot of time on the lees and was really delicious. I was not impressed with the red and white wine selections or the port. The Irache Reserva from Spain is a cheap red under 10 bucks. It was barely palatable. Overall, this business class wine list is adequate but far inferior to their incredible champagne and sparkling wine selections in BA First Class.

The cheese plate was solid, if unspectacular. The fig spread was excellent as were the firm crackers that matched the cheese well. Towards the end of the flight they served an outstanding afternoon tea. I had more NV Digby Sparkling Wine with the tea service. Each of the sandwiches were carefully crafted and were also very flavorful, with special attention to texture. The Coronation Chicken in particular was really good.

I’m not sure there is another carrier that does a better business class tea service. The colors and flavors were seriously good. I had been really impressed with the dinner service which had been excellent, with good cadence and no long wait. I decided to have a glass of scotch as I was winding down for some rest. I made my bed into the lie flat position which was really easy and placed the comfy comforter over me. After the tea service we started our descent towards Seattle-Tacoma airport.

BOTTOM LINE:

This is now my fourth time flying British Aiways Club Suites which is clearly a very polished hard and soft product. The bathroom is unspectacular. However, the actual seat is extremely good for Business Class long haul flights. I have found that the service in Business Class long haul to be consistently good. I think that the wine list can use some improvement particularly not having any good red wines. I really enjoyed the British Sparkling wine selection and my wife enjoyed the NV Feuilatte champagne. Despite having a full business class cabin, the service wass consistently great. I will happily do the Club Suites flight again which is one of the better Business Class hard products you will find in the sky.

Darioush

It is my pleasure to share one of the wine world’s great tales of the American Dream. Northern Iran is one of the birthplaces of wine, as records from 5,000 B.C. indicate a nomad culture living there and celebrating wine. Darioush Khaledi was instilled at an early age with the winemaking craft of his father and began collecting fine wine at a young age. He migrated from Iran to the United States and owned what was once the largest family-owned grocery store business in California. His passion for wine met its apex in 1997 when he formed Darioush winery. Darioush Khaledi is an inspired American dream.

Using his business acumen, Darioush set out to craft the best overall lineup of wines in Napa. There is little doubt that Darioush is one of the most beautiful wineries in the entire west coast. Upon entering the winery you are greeted by Persian inspired pillars that make you feel like you’re entering a royal palace. Imported travertine lines the entire winery and the calming water feature inside the winery really is something special. You have to  check out the Provence inspired garden setting that literally feels like a world away.

I loved the new wines across the board. Check out the 2023 Darioush Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is beautiful and fresh with a neat texture. I adored the 2022 Darioush Cabernet Franc (OB, 96)  which is one of the great renditions of this wine that I have tasted. Learn more about this beautiful winery at darioush.com. Here are the outstanding new wines by Darioush.

2023 Darioush Chardonnay- The brilliant 2023 Darioush Chardonnay shows good freshness alongside poached pear and vanilla bean notes on the palate, with baking spice laced pastry crust and shades of mango. Complex and very delicious, enjoy now and over the next several years. Drink 2025-2032- 93

2022 Darioush Merlot- The 2022 Darioush Merlot has 16% Malbec blended in and was stored in 75% new French oak before bottling. Sourced from sites in the Oak Knoll, Mount Veeder, and Yountville districts, this delivers generous cocoa powder and dark currant flavors that meld well with shades of graphite and damp loamy soils. Drink 2025-2035- 94

2022 Darioush Cabernet Franc- A stunning and generous rendition of this wine, the 2022 Cabernet Franc  is 100% varietal that was stood in 75% new French oak barrels before bottling. This is highly polished, concentrated stuff, with a fabulous acid backbone. Deep black and blue fruits march on with pencil lead, anise, and shades of creme de violette and tar on the palate. Complex and hedonistic, enjoy this beauty now and over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2025-2042- 96

2022 Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2022 Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunning bottling that has a long way to go in its development. Once on the nose this takes on plush cassis and kirsch fruits that combine with Arabica bean, tar, loamy soils and suggestions of violets. The palate is seamless and complex, with great flavor density and underlying freshness. A glorious wine from this vintage, enjoy now and over the next twenty years to come. Drink 2025-2045- 96