Boston & Vancouver, October 2019 – In keeping with its ultra-luxury positioning, Scenic commissioned the services of renowned Master of Wines, Keith Isaac, to create a wine list representing the finest wines from around the world for the world’s first Discovery Yacht, Scenic Eclipse. This selection of 80 different wines, like nearly everything else having to do with a Scenic cruise, are included in the fares.
“Fine dining and quality wines are an integral part of the Scenic experience – for both our river and our ocean cruising products,” said Glen Moroney, Founder and Chairman of the Scenic Group. “Our guests have a passion for and a knowledge of quality wines, and it is essential that we offer a selection of wines that represent both a diversity of regions and a diversity of styles, and one that exemplifies our core brand offering.”
One of only 400 Master of Wines around the world, Keith Isaac, worked with the Scenic team to create a wine list that is representative of quality, that appeals to the global traveler and that complements the Scenic Eclipse experience.
“With “Discovery” being part of the mission statement of Scenic Eclipse, we continued with that theme for the wine list,” said Keith. “We hope the guests on board will love their journey of discovery of some of the less familiar, ‘off the wall’ European whites like the Eidos de Padriñán Albariño and the Terra do Lobo Godello from Spain, or the Crazy Creatures Grüner Veltliner from Austria.”
The wine selection has been designed to reflect the regions through which Scenic Eclipse travels. In Antarctica there is a Cabernet Franc from Mendoza in Argentina and a Syrah from Limarí in Chile to give a regional feel to the list. Among the champagnes being poured is a 1er Cru from Lombard and a Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs from Autréau, as well as the Palmes d’Or 2006 from Nicolas Feuillatte.
“We hope the guests will be impressed with the first wines they try, by the range and quality on offer, and excited to taste the rest! We have tried to strike a balance of “wow factor” wines they will be surprised to see offered as part Scenic’s all-inclusive commitment, with some lesser known varieties from all sorts of places,” Issac added.
Chairman’s Cellar List
In addition to the extensive selection of fine wines from around the world that are a feature of Scenic’s all-inclusive commitment, Scenic Eclipse also offers the “Chairman’s Cellar List”. This selection comprises a limited cellar list of the finest wines from around the world and is personally selected by Keith Isaac and Glen Moroney and available for guests to purchase.
The “Chairman’s Cellar List” reflects some of the most incredible French Champagnes and wines from around the world,” said Glen Moroney. “We have put together a list of the very best vintages with notes from Keith Isaac and made them available on board for guests to experience”.
As in Champagne, Glen and Keith focused on the best Bordeaux vintages, in this case 1995 and 1996. Regarded as a great pair, 1995 has a rounder and more forward taste while 1996 offers a classic vintage with blackcurrant and spicy cedar characters. Top wines from each commune, first growths and “super seconds” have been chosen for the most part. Palmer and Haut-Brion are stars in 1995.
The range is completed with and excellent 1998: Château Lafite, with its label, completely by chance, featured in artwork outside Lumière restaurant. Other selections come from the best years of the early part of this century — 2000 fully merits its reputation, and 2001 and 2004 are increasingly appreciated as they mature, while the quality of 2005 has never been in doubt.
A selection of possibilities are listed below:
Château Palmer 1995, Cru Classé, Margaux
Château La Fleur Petrus 1995, Pomerol
Château Certan de May 1995, Pomerol
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 1995, Cru Classé, St. Julien
Château Haut-Brion 1995, 1er Grand Cru Classé, Pessac-Leognan
Château Latour 1995, 1er Grand Cru Classé, Pauillac
Château Mouton-Rothschild 1995, 1er Grand Cru Classé, Pauillac
Château Margaux 1996, 1er Grand Cru Classé, Margaux
Designed to deliver the ultimate experience of a lifetime for 228 guests, (200 in Polar regions), Scenic Eclipse takes ocean cruising to a whole new level – marrying luxury and discovery with the ultimate in safety and sustainability, giving guests the opportunity to explore above and beyond what was previously imaginable.
Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours has grown over its 33-year history to include award-winning, all-inclusive escorted tours that take participants to many of the world’s most fascinating destinations and, since 2008, truly all-inclusive, five-star river cruises in Europe, SE Asia, Russia and Egypt on its 15 Space-Ships. Sister brand Emerald Waterways has seven Star-Ships offering European river sailings with its eighth, Emerald Harmony, having just launched for SE Asia’s Mekong River. Exclusive charters are offered on SE Asia’s Irrawaddy River; the Volga River in Russia; yacht cruises out of Croatia; and Egypt’s Nile River.
Additional information on these and other cruises, brochures and reservations can be obtained via travel agents; or in the US: www.scenicusa.com; phone 844-788-7985; or email: [email protected]; and in Canada: www.scenic.ca; phone (866) 689-8611; or email: [email protected]. Brochures can also be downloaded directly from the website.