Ive always thought that was absolute rubbish promoted by the airlines as an excuse for poor quality wines. I have been lucky enough to fly a lot of business and first internationally and things like Krug, DP and Johnnie Walker Blue have always tasted exactly the same. The airlines always promoted that alcohol was far more potent at altitude, again ive disproven this hundreds of times, its another ploy to reduce the amount consumed as a cost savings.
Airlines are like lawyers, the old joke, you know they are lying because the lips are moving
I was doubtful of an article but found a recent wine menu on Flyertalk for Etihad. No first growth but 86 Ducru and 97 Jaboulet la chappelle.
Cathay has cut there wine program in F dramatically as did Etihad (although Etihad did have a nice Bouchard Meirsault Premier Cru (forgot which PC) recently. More often it seems like they offer a St. Aubin or Pernand Vergelless white. You can usually get a nice champagne, but the high end reds seem to be dinosaurs on the other high end carriers
ETA it is a Meursault lieux dit, 2013 Le Clous, which I preferred to their red offering, Boissot Chambolle 1er Les charmes 2012 which didn’t move me. Other offerings- Pieropan La Rocca 2014 Soave, Villa Antinori Chisnti Classico Riserva 2012 (really, that’s the best Italian red you could do Etihad?), Sociandi Mallet 2009. Would be a solid business class lineup, but illustrates how international F class has declined.
Etihad’s wines in economy aren’t up to much. I don’t think I have ever tried them (driving the other end). Generic South African Red and White iirc. Never flown economy on Emirates.
I’ve flown Cathay HKG-SFO roundtrip last year in F and C. Not bad. Certainly doesn’t compare to Emirates, but not complaining. Krug NV and 2000-2005 vintage mid-level bordeaux in F.