Night flight for Buenos Aires

Ahhh… The magic of evening flights! A glass of 2006 Côte-Rôtie Les Essartailles to kick off this trip over the Atlantic towards the austral lands of Argentina, its immense Patagonia and its “mendozinos” terroirs.

Check-in for flight AF 418 heading for Buenos Aires. At take off, next to me, an elegant gentleman registers his Golden Retriever… and heaps of luggage! The happy expression on his face gives the impression that his visit will last longer than 15 days… I’ll try to find out a bit more once on board. A couple of purchases later at the duty free shop (it’s a typical guy thing to compulsively buy stuff at the last minute), the time is 10.15pm and there’s still an hour to kill before take off. Just like I’m pretty sure you would, I decide to check out the latest fresh news in the newspapers. The lounge empties and the passengers gradually disappear as each flight is called: Flight AF 454 for Sao Paolo, Flight AF 442 for Rio de Janeiro, Flight AF 406 for Santiago, Flight AF 188 for Hong Kong. All of a sudden everything is calm. And then: Flight AF 418 for Buenos Aires: last call!

The elegant fellow I saw registering his luggage is just behind me. He is already holding a glass of 1999 Pommery Grand Cru Millésimé. I also accept one with great pleasure. I just adore this blend of Pinot noir and Chardonnay with its aromas of brioche, cereals and dried fruit, as so well described on the brochure.

Take off. The 777-200 feels heavy laden. The trip is going to be long, the pilot informs us that the flight will last 13 hours and 40 minutes. The wind is blowing in the opposite direction, but this isn’t a problem, and we’re comfortably seated…

Dinner is served shortly after. My neighbour is already snoring. Looks like I’m going to have to wait a bit if I want to chat. The hostess brings along a wine list with offerings selected by Olivier Poussier, the World’s Best Sommelier in 2000, and currently the Head Sommelier at Lenôtre. I decide to try a 2007 white Corbières Villemajou Gérard Bertrand. It’s just perfect with a foie gras served with onion and grape jam. I then opt for a chicken filet stuffed with dried fruit and an orange-flavoured juice served with zucchini and gratin dauphinois. We’re already at 33,000 feet in altitude (11,000 metres). I don’t know whether to try a 2005 Moulin à Vent Georges Duboeuf or a 2005 Haut-Médoc Château Villambis Cru Bourgeois. But my presence on board isn’t just about returning to this country which is also my home away from home – and which will be, as you’ll find out later, a new location for Number Wine. I’m also here to carry out a delicate exercise, that of tasting these wines that you’ll maybe equally taste sometime soon. As a result, the hostess shows me the exceptional wine list served in First class: 2005 Pouilly-Fuissé Vers Cras Joseph Burrier, 2006 Côte-Rôtie Les Essartailles, 2004 Margaux Château Brane Cantenac second Grand Cru Classé… : “Take your pick”, she kindly suggested. I decide to go for the 2005 Pouilly-Fuissé Vers Cras. It’s probable that sensations are accentuated by the altitude, but the pleasure is immense. As my neighbours lie down little by little in their reclining seats, preparing for a long night’s sleep, I agree to taste the mango ice cream and to try out a selection of after dinner drinks. Maybe I’m over doing it, but I can’t resist a drop of 12 Year Old Calvados Pays d´Auge Lecompte.

Now I’m ready for 7 to 8 hours sleep. Stretched out on my seat, now converted into a bed, I fall asleep, thereby leaving you… only to wake up eight hours later. Entirely relaxed after a real night’s sleep! I love my national airline company! Doesn’t look like I’m going to find out much about my neighbour who’s still sleeping… But it’s true that the convertible seats, transforming into beds that are two metres long and 60 cm wide, allow even a tall guy like me to sleep, something that’s often quite difficult to do when flying. As I look through the window, I see that it’s still night and my interactive video screen indicates that we are flying directly over Porto Alegre, a large coastal city in the south of Brazil. Another two hours before our arrival. I come across “Mr Elegant” again, this time at the bar. He confirms the questions that I asked myself when boarding. He’s going to Mendoza, Argentina’s winegrowing area, for eight months, where he owns a new bodega called Atamisque. Of course we immediately strike up a conversation about wine, and we have all of a sudden heaps of subjects in common. He’s planning on settling there until April, just after harvest-time. I can easily note how impatient he is about getting to his haven, in the middle of the vines, at the foot of the Andes still covered in snow at this time of year… We’ll most certainly go visit him and we promise to tell you all about our trip. Some more French gastronomic colours with an irreproachable breakfast – tea, warm croissants, omelette. We finally fly over Uruguay and then Rio de la Plata, the birthplace of Maradona, tango as well as polo, and our 777-200 lands gently on the air strip of Ezeiza-Ministro Pistarini, the final destination of this long distance flight. “We’ve just arrived in Buenos Aires, the local time is 8.15am, the outside temperature is 13°C and the weather is fine. Air France hopes to see you again soon on one of its flights.” In my case you can count on it.

In three days time it’s going to be Spring in Argentina - Dia de la Primavera. The trees are just starting to blossom and the warm air of Buenos Aires is already making a twinkle...

Jean Sanchez