Cathay Pacific Airways today announced the latest enhancement to its award-winning inflight cellar – the introduction of six fine Bordeaux Grands Crus Classés wines in First Class.

Passengers in the First Class cabin can now savour six carefully chosen “Classified Growths” from the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 in addition to the regular First Class wine selection. The 1855 classification was created to present the most famous Bordeaux wines at the Paris Universal exhibition.

From the 61 crus classés – “great growths” – that feature on the Médoc list, Cathay Pacific will offer the following six fine wines:

  • Château Lagrange 2006
  • Château Cantenac Brown 2005
  • Château Giscours 2008
  • Château Pontet-Canet 2007
  • Château Branaire-Ducru 2004
  • Château Lynch Bages 2004

Cathay Pacific Manager Catering Services Charles Grossrieder said: “At Cathay Pacific we are committed to offering the best possible selection of food and beverage as part of the inflight experience. Over the years the Cathay Pacific Catering team has worked closely with the airline’s wine consultants to provide new and exciting additions to our inflight cellar, and we are sure our First Class passengers will relish this selection of Bordeaux Grands Crus Classés wines.”

Cathay Pacific currently carries around 70 different wines to go with its wide variety of inflight cuisine and suit the differing tastes of passengers from around the world. The current selection includes wines from France, Italy, South Africa, Australia, the United States, New Zealand and Argentina.

The airline’s wine selections are made in Hong Kong by a wine-tasting panel that includes expert wine consultants. Tasting is an extremely important of the selection process because wines taste different in the air than they do on the ground due to the drier cabin environment and the effects of air-conditioning.

In 2011, the airline served around 1.6 million bottles of wine and champagne on its flights.

About the featured Bordeaux Grands Crus Classés wines:

Château Lagrange 2006
is a deep opaque colour with purple red nuances. The flavours of sweet cassis, liquorice, herb, and spice box are beautifully integrated with oak tannins. It is full-bodied and powerful, with outstanding purity, texture, and depth. A stylish wine with length and presence, its textured tannins give good structure around the fruit. A strong effort, the 2006 Lagrange competes with the finest wines of the appellation.

Château Cantenac Brown 2005
This exceptional vintage is extremely complex. Intriguing and with great flavours, the nose exhibits cherry and violet notes. Full bodied, with a wonderful vanilla, berry and chocolate character, the tannins are round and silky and the palate full flavoured. This leads to a lasting and memorable finish. This is one of the greatest vintages of Château Cantenac Brown.

Château Giscours 2008
presents an intense dark garnet with beautiful glints. Its complex nose reveals fine aromas of black fruit with subtle spicy notes. Round and silky, with lovely black cherry and blackcurrant fruit imbued with touches of smoke, herbs and earth, the silky palate with fine-grained tannins develop on a long finish. It is a beautifully balanced and precise wine which is a perfect expression of a pure Margaux.

Château Pontet-Canet 2007
is deep in colour, offering rich black and red fruits with a beautiful minerality. The palate is full and velvet textured with ample fruits complemented by a ripe, well defined structure. Elegant and silky, its impressive length and seamless balance make it ideal for enjoying now. It is a perfect rendition of what this vintage can achieve with rigorous grape selection.

Château Branaire-Ducru 2004
Processing the finest aromatics of all the 2004 St. Juliens, Branaire-Ducru offers complex liquorice, cranberry and floral notes interwoven with notions of plums and figs. The palate is dense, complex and smooth. The wine exhibits elegance with crisp acidity and notes of minerals, raspberries and subtle oak. Gentle ripe tannins work well with the fruit, creating a wonderful experience.

Château Lynch Bages 2004
A fully-saturated inky ruby colour, the nose offers aromas of blackcurrant and cherry. Sweet, lush and ripe, with pure blackberry, cocoa and coffee flavours, its full-bodied texture, very good balance and sound acidity keeps this light on its feet. Fully mature with a smooth and voluptuous finish, it is very enjoyable to drink now.