EXCLUSIVE WINES
The Emirates Vintage Collection
Discover our most exclusive wines
If you spot this icon in your wine list in First Class, you’re in for a treat. You’ve found one of the rarest and most exceptional wines from our collection in Bordeaux. Wines from The Emirates Vintage Collection are matured for up to 15 years in our cellars before they’re ready for you to enjoy on board. We’re releasing these special vintages throughout the year on selected routes—look out for them next time you fly to the Americas, Australasia, the Far East, or Europe.
Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2004
The 2004 is the second vintage of La Mission Haut-Brion that we’ve offered on board, having served the 1996 last year. Nestled in the Bordeaux suburbs opposite its sister property, Château Haut-Brion, La Mission was acquired in 1983 by Domaine Clarence Dillon. A royal connection (the company president is Prince Robert of Luxembourg) and seven perfect 100-point scores from celebrated wine critic Robert Parker make it wine nobility.
The 2004 displays complex aromas of blackcurrant, black cherry, tobacco, and pencil shavings. The palate is elegant and medium bodied, with notes of underbrush and a hint of capsicum on the crisp finish.
Château Montrose 2005
The 2005 is the fourth Montrose vintage we’ve served on board over the last 10 years. A prime contender for promotion to a First Growth, this leading producer of the Saint-Estèphe appellation has been owned by Martin and Olivier Bouygues since 2006. The winery sits in the east on a sun-exposed gravel knoll only 800 meters from the Gironde estuary, ensuring its protection against frost.
This 2005 has concentrated red berry fruit with hints of cedar, graphite, and floral tones. Medium bodied and firm with hints of dried leaves and a herbal tinge to the fruit. The finish is long and complex.
Château Léoville Las Cases 1998
This is the third vintage of the Grand Vin from this estate that we’ve served on board. If you traveled in First Class with us in 2017, you may remember drinking the 1989 on routes to North and South America and the UK.
This château is the most high profile of the three properties that were originally part of the enormous 17th century Léoville estate. Under the direction of Michel Delon, the estate’s wines have reached the quality level of the First Growths, and it’s one of the leading group of Second Growth chateaux known as ‘super-seconds’.
The 1998 bears scents of black raspberry, dried cherry, prune, and wood-smoke. Medium-bodied and well-structured with evolved notes of tobacco and dried leaf adding complexity.
Château Cos d’Estournel 2005
Over the last five years we’ve served not just this property’s Grand Vin, but also the white wine and popular second wine, Les Pagodes de Cos. For many years acclaimed as one of the top ten wines of the vintage, Cos earned Second Growth status in the revered 1855 classification of the Médoc. It produces some of the best Cabernet grapes of Bordeaux—around 60% of this blend—and the clay soil means the property also has significant plantings of Merlot, giving the wine a voluptuous character.
The 2005 has aromas of crème de cassis, black cherry, violet, and exotic spice. The palate is full bodied and many layered with concentrated black fruit flavors, dense, ripe tannins, and an extremely long finish.
Château Margaux 2004
Our relationship with Château Margaux dates back to 2008 when we served the 1982 vintage on our inaugural A380 flight to New York. The ‘Versailles of the Médoc’ produces some of the greatest wines made in recent times. After acquiring it in 1977, André Mentzelopoulos invested heavily in improving the land in just a few years. When he died in 1980, his daughter Corinne took over and continues to make improvements with every new vintage.
This 2004 shows pure raspberry, redcurrant and cigar box notes with a tinge of graphite. Medium bodied and well-balanced, the supple tannins are coated by red fruits with a hint of orange peel on the persistent finish.
Château Mouton Rothschild 2004
Decades of lobbying by Baron Philippe de Rothschild saw this exceptional wine finally elevated to First Growth status after being excluded from the 1855 classification. And justifiably so—it ranks as one of the best wines in the world. Each year the label features a different artist—this one is by Prince Charles celebrating 100 years of the Entente Cordiale. We also served the 2001 vintage last year, which featured portraits of then owner Baroness Philippine de Rothschild.
The 2004 has a powerful nose of black currants, fruitcake, cedar, and toast. The palate is medium bodied with firm tannin and hints of forest floor complementing the spiced fruit flavors.
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