December has arrived in Bordeaux, which means two things…

The vines are now hibernating, and the holiday music is flooding the streets. It’s festive, charming, and …relentless.

Meanwhile, between the holidays and some exciting local news, things have been anything but quiet for Maud and me.

First up: Mouton Rothschild has revealed its 2023 label, and as expected, Bordeaux is buzzing.

Only a Mouton label unveiling can inspire that level of chaos in December.

Surprise Guest Speaker
Speaking of keeping things lively… Ronald is back this month as a guest contributor.

Brilliant and entertaining, Ronald’s insights deliver sharp wit, fun observations, and stories that never lose their charm.

It’s vintage Ronald. It’s vintage Bordeaux.

A Gourmet & Micheline-Starred Detour
And because no December issue should be too serious, I’m taking you on a quick holiday detour of the Michelin Man.

Born in 1894 to sell tires, he somehow became the world’s most prestigious culinary guide, a wonderful example of classic French absurdity.

How did a plump, smiling tire man end up shaping the way the world eats?

A clever, entertaining story — best enjoyed with a Bordeaux in hand 😉.

But First, A Quick Thank You
As we close out the year, I want to say how much I appreciate this community. Your messages, questions, and visits turn this newsletter into something much more personal and far more fun than a simple monthly update.

It’s the ultimate dream passion project.

The Perfect Holiday Gift
We have a few spots left for our 2026 Tour Program. If you’re looking for a holiday gift that’s memorable, delicious, and doesn’t require wrapping, this is it.

2027 Bordeaux Wine Experience
Our 2027 Tour Program is nearly ready. If you want first access as soon as it’s released, you can request it below.

Treat someone special to a Bordeaux Wine Experience this holiday season.

Until then, uncork something that makes you smile. Uncork the extraordinary!

I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me anytime at: michael(at)bxwinex.com.

2026 Bordeaux Wine Tour Schedule

The Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour I
May 25 – 30, 2026
(sold out!)

The Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour II
June 1 – 6, 2026
(Last rooms available)

The Bordeaux Grand Cru Harvest Tour I
September 15-19, 2026
(Last rooms available)

The Bordeaux Grand Cru Harvest Tour II
September 21 – 26, 2026
(Last rooms available)

It’s Paraíso !!
Mouton Rothschild recently unveiled their 2023 label. And in typical Mouton fashion, the excitement doesn’t stop with the wine.

This year, Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos takes the honor, becoming the first Portuguese artist ever selected.

Mouton says her artwork Paraíso (Portuguese for Paradise) celebrates the grapes, earth, water, sunlight, and night that define the estate’s spirit.

They add that Joana brings these elements together with a natural sense of harmony, creating an artistic blend of terroir, craft, and imagination.

I’m far from an art critic, but Paraíso caught my eye. Its brightness and warmth added a welcome bit of celebration to these shorter and colder holiday days.

And it doesn’t hurt that the label lands on what many consider an excellent vintage. And the good news, at least for now, this 2023 remains relatively accessible in price.

A Century of Tradition
Mouton’s artistic tradition kicked off in 1924, when Baron Philippe de Rothschild took a bold step:

Bottling on-site instead of relying on négociants (and their pricing).

He commissioned artist Jean Carlu to design a label. A gamble that was initially rejected.

But the idea resurfaced in 1945, after World War II. This time with Philippe Jullian and his iconic “V for Victory” label.

With the world ready to celebrate and spirits soaring, the label was welcomed with open arms. And a new era at Mouton was born.

A century later, the labels have become a playground for artists like Dalí, Picasso, Warhol, and… Prince Charles.

Mouton bottles are more than just wine. They’re bona fide collectibles, and they deserve a home in our cellars. 

Living Up to the Hype: 2023
The consensus is clear: this vintage lives up to everything you’d expect from a First Growth, especially with Mouton’s pedigree.

It delivers the classic full-bodied structure, with dark fruits, spice, and cedar. It’s velvety smooth and complex. And it will only get better with time.

2023 will be a bit more accessible in the first 10 years than the outstanding 2022, which merits more ageing.

But take note: the 2023 still has remarkable aging potential. I expect it will bring joy to wine lovers for the next three to four decades.

More Than “Just About the Wine”
For most guests on our tours, tasting Mouton isn’t just about the wine. Sure, the wine is spectacular, and it speaks for itself.

But that’s only part of the story. It’s the label, the history, the experience. And the people you’re sharing it with.

That’s what sticks with you long after the bottle is empty.

Meet Bibendum
Before we dive back into Bordeaux, allow me a fun and brief culinary-cultural intermission.

A slight detour involving tires, fine dining, and one of the cleverest marketing campaigns in French history.

The original Michelin Man looked both proud and mildly uncomfortable. Fully inflated, smoking tobacco, and unmistakably French, Bibendum unapologetically embodied French Haute Couture.

Tradition. Practicality. Global Authority.
In the late 1800s, when the Michelin brothers first dreamed up their mascot, tires were white. Not for elegance, but practicality.

It wasn’t until 1912 that tire manufacturers started adding carbon black to rubber. A technical innovation that increased longevity.

The Michelin Man, however, remained his original hue. Tradition, after all, is a powerful ingredient in French culture.

Entrepreneurial Genius
In 1900, there were fewer than 3,000 cars in France. The Michelin brothers, being entrepreneurial geniuses, asked themselves a very reasonable question:

How do we encourage people to drive more… so they wear out their tires… so they buy more tires… ideally from us?

Their solution was brilliant: create a travel guide. And in that guide, list mechanics, hotels, and, critical to our story, restaurants.

More driving = more tires = more sales.
And with that, gastronomic history was quietly set in motion.

From Practical Guide to Culinary Bible
As France’s culinary scene blossomed, so did the little red book.

Restaurants were increasingly the highlight, and by 1926, Michelin began awarding stars: The culinary distinctions that would shape global dining for the next century.

Defining Excellence in Gastronomy
By 1931, the now-famous hierarchy appeared:

One Star: worth the stop (remarkable table).
Two Stars: worth the detour.
Three Stars: worth the special journey.

It is hard to imagine a more elegant victory for industrial marketing.

The Michelin brothers set out to sell more tires… and ended up defining excellence in gastronomy.

Not bad for a pair of men who began by drawing a logo that looked like it had wandered off the Ghostbusters set.

The Michelin Man’s Original Motto
In the early advertisements, Bibendum was often shown raising a glass and proclaiming:
Nunc est Bibendum

Translation: Now is the time to drink.

This was not wine, unfortunately.
It was broken glass, nails, and road debris.

The message? Michelin tires laugh in the face of obstacles.

For me, it sounds like French marketing has always had a flair for drama (and integrating cigarettes, fine dining, and exceptional wine).

And the Modern Legacy
Today, Michelin stars remain the most prestigious culinary distinction in the world.

Celebrated, debated, and pursued with the kind of passion usually reserved for vintage Bordeaux and fine art.

Chefs call them their Olympics. Diners call them their compass.

And Michelin, discreetly and elegantly, continues to be the gold standard of gastronomic excellence.

All thanks to a plump, smiling, slightly uncanny tire man from 1894.

And now, with Bibendum’s story of tires, taste, and tradition behind us, we turn back to Bordeaux…

We Are Doing Great
My friend and neighbor, Michael, told me that he has received a wave of positive comments on his taking the reins of the Bordeaux Wine Experience and my beloved Bordeaux Wine Magazine.

He also got quite a few questions about me and how retirement is treating me.

Sandy Beaches
The good news?

I haven’t fallen off the planet!

Truth be told, Margaret and I did celebrate our retirement with a great trip to the Bahamas.

And once back, it was a bit hard to adapt to the Bordeaux fall weather 😉.

Margaret has been taking all kinds of courses and classes to fill up her days.

Fully retired now, I finally tackled reorganizing my cellar.

Yes, I still buy wine. And yes, I keep adding to my Mouton collection.

I actually found out about the new label of the Mouton Rothschild 2023 while we were in sunny Bahamas.

And the new label couldn’t have been more fitting: Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild, co-owner of Mouton, found Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos.

And Joana created a very sunny label that made me happy just by looking at it.

2026 Bordeaux Wine Tour Program
(with extraordinary wine experiences)
Back at our chateau, I step out of retirement now and then to help Michael with the transition.

This is so convenient as he is my neighbor! We just pop over now and then when there are questions or when he likes to lean a bit on my experience.

Michael is already exceptionally well-connected in Bordeaux and highly regarded. But I still enjoyed introducing him to a few of my special contacts in the wine world.

We have been crafting the 2026 Bordeaux Wine Tour program together.

This 2026 program will be similar to our programs from the past, and I was happy to learn that so many of you joined next year’s tours with equal confidence.

That said, there are still a few spots left for June and even for the Harvest Tours. So why not request an itinerary?

The Wine Tradition Continues 
I’ve been coaching Michael on stocking his wine cellar with special wines to share with you in 2026 and beyond.

He insisted the quality should at least match what Margaret and I served “back in the day.“

And boy, did he manage to find some beauties! I might show up at next year’s Friday’s farewell dinner to taste a few myself.

Michael will no doubt write a special piece about the spectacular Yquem he added to his collection.

And you won’t believe where he found those bottles.

More than Golf and Salsa
Many of my days are spent on the money pit we call a chateau and attempting salsa classes with Margaret. 

Michael’s Show
But answering your question: yes, I’m enjoying my new, fully retired life… the Wine Experience is Michael’s show now!

And I’m happy that both you and Bordeaux are now in Michael’s capable hands.

That said, I do love giving my opinion. And even better, Michael actually welcomes my suggestions.

So, you may still see me pop up occasionally on a tour or here in the newsletter. That is, if I’m not fixing my golf swing or “researching” cocktails on some sunny island.

Retirement takes up more time than I expected. Luckily, great Bordeaux wines make it all so much easier…

Cheers,
Ronald 🍷

This is definitely one of the most exclusive tours that we offer.

Join the Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour for an experience of pure opulence, featuring exquisite cuisine and exceptional wines.

Savor exclusive chateau meals for a truly gorgeous, culinary experience.

The gastronomic delights are nothing short of extraordinary, featuring exclusive meals set in remarkable venues typically inaccessible to the public.

As if that weren’t enough, the tour presents a rare opportunity to taste all five First Growths of over 25 years old, plus the Superior First Growth Chateau d’Yquem of over 40 years old!

This tour offers exclusive dining, exceptional wines, and aged vintages, creating an unforgettable journey into Bordeaux’s culinary and wine excellence.

What makes it even more special is the inclusion of older vintages, adding a unique dimension to the wine-tasting experience.

It’s no wonder that the Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour has earned its status as a beloved favorite.

The Bordeaux Grand Cru Harvest Tour
Behold one of our most exclusive tours, a wine lover’s dream come true in the heart of Bordeaux.

This ultimate wine tour promises an unparalleled experience, setting the bar for perfection.

Harvest time in Bordeaux is a thrilling period, filled with anticipation and vibrant energy in the vineyards.

Prepare to be amazed as you savor the exquisite taste of all five First Growths of over 25 years old, plus the Superior First Growth Chateau d’Yquem of over 40 years old!

The tour doesn’t stop there; it extends to include the best offerings from Saint Emilion and Pomerol, featuring many older vintages.

Elevating the experience further are the outstanding meals meticulously curated at exceptional venues rarely accessible to the public.

This blend of exceptional tastings and exclusive dining makes this tour highly sought-after, offering Bordeaux enthusiasts the ultimate wine, culinary, and harvest season experience. season.

It’s no surprise that the Bordeaux Grand Cru Harvest Tour has become a cherished favorite.