As we slide into the final stretch of the year, I’ve been reflecting on the past few months. Humorous, memorable, and unquestionably drenched in Bordeaux.

Especially the last few weeks.

I’ve been working with my neighbor, good friend, and mentor, Ronald, sketching out our 2026 and 2027 Bordeaux Wine Tours.

One conversation led to another, inevitably one bottle led to the next, and before long, a showdown began to take shape. A debate over two of the Médoc’s most coveted appellations.

Our very own Rumble in the Jungle
Margaux vs Saint-Julien.
Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman.

In this issue, I’m bringing you ringside for a Left Bank face-off between these two Bordeaux titans.

Played out over the past few weeks, one unforgettable bottle at a time. A friendly heavyweight bout that reminded us why these appellations continue to captivate wine lovers everywhere.

Four rounds. Two legends. A lot of wine.

In Remembrance
After our friendly Left Bank rumble, I want to share a quieter, more reflective moment about commemorating World War I.

This war may be forgotten by many, but in France it remains deeply significant; a defining tragedy remembered every year with deep emotion and solemn tribute.

I would like to take a brief but sincere moment to honor those who served. Your courage and sacrifices are deeply appreciated and not forgotten.

A Special Note to our Community
As always, your messages, questions, and stories mean the world to me.

They remind me that this isn’t just a newsletter, it’s a community bound by curiosity, the love of wine, and a shared enjoyment of life’s little absurdities.

2026 Bordeaux Wine Experience
We have just a few spots left for our Tours, and we can’t wait to share these incredible experiences with you: 2026 Tour Program

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

You’ll meet the people behind the wines, sample the grapes, taste the juices, and enjoy unforgettable meals and moments.

2027 Bordeaux Wine Experience
Exciting news, our 2027 Tour Program will be released soon. Receive your 2027 schedule as soon as it becomes available.

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)

How it all started
Over the past few weeks, I’ve found myself ringside for our very own Left Bank Heavyweight Rumble in the Jungle.

The Ali vs Foreman of Bordeaux. A friendly neighborhood title fight set not in Zaire, but here, in a quiet corner of the Left Bank.

It started innocently enough. While planning our 2026 & 2027 Bordeaux Wine Tours with Ronald, a debate bubbled up between a few bottles… Margaux or Saint Julien? 

Me? Margaux.
Ronald? Saint Julien.

We decided there was only one solution… make it formal and drink our way to clarity.

Thus began our four-round spectacle.

(Though, to be fair, we unknowingly completed the first three rounds before realizing what was happening.)

Round 1-3: Clash of Cabernet Titans
Despite being only ~20 kilometers apart, Margaux and Saint-Julien are proof that proximity does not equal similarity.

Close enough to be cousins. Different enough to feud.

Margaux: The Elegant Assassin
Margaux fights with finesse. Movement, rhythm, precision. An iron fist in a velvet glove.

Bottles like Chateau Palmer, from the complicated vintage 2007, a young Chateau d’Issan 2016, and the surprisingly approachable Brane-Cantenac 2010.

This reminded me once again why Margaux was my gateway into Bordeaux.

Perfumed. Graceful. A wine that prefers velvet gloves over boxing gloves.

Personal bias
Named Margaux, even my seven-year-old daughter, can probably confirm that I stepped into this ring with a touch of bias.

But Saint-Julien refuses to play the understudy, matching its rival punch for punch, glass for glass, with its own impressive power, poise, and endurance.

Saint-Julien: The Technician
Saint-Julien is disciplined, strategic, and quietly powerful. Never flashy, never sloppy.

Recent matchups from Léoville Poyferré 2018, Beychevelle 2012, and the excellent-value Gloria 2005 showed the appellation at its best: balanced, composed, and unwaveringly confident.

Where Margaux pirouettes and jabs, Saint-Julien lands her haymakers.

Side by side, they embody Left Bank duality:
elegance vs power, perfume vs precision.

By the end of what we later realized was Round 3, we’d reached no consensus. Only empty glasses and a few animated and dramatized arguments.

Which, naturally, led us to Round 4.

To be fair, since the first few rounds were unintentional, our bottles ranged from across the 2000s with no particular order.

The 2009 Vintage
We had unexpectedly found ourselves going toe-to-toe without any real plan, and needed an even playing field for our next round.

We settled on the legendary 2009 vintage. Famous for delivering that rare trifecta of ripeness, richness, and remarkable balance.

The kind of vintage that makes even friendly debates feel like Grand Crus going head-to-head. This was going to be our main event.

Round 4: The Main Event
Once the dust settled, Ronald disappeared into his cellar and decided on a 2009 Léoville Barton. A classic Saint-Julien bruiser with pedigree and poise.

I emerged from my cellar with a bottle of 2009 Prieuré-Lichine, one of Margaux’s most charming and quietly underestimated performers, and a favorite of mine.

We had unintentionally staged three rounds already. This fourth round would be our official finale. A proper title bout. A delicious, but unnecessary, attempt at resolution.

Split Decision
And as expected, both bottles were spectacular: refined, expressive, and simply themselves. Different, yet equal in pleasure. A perfect embodiment of what makes Bordeaux so endlessly fascinating.

In the end, with a nod to the greats, we declared the match what it truly was:

A split decision. A glorious, entertaining, educational split decision.

We didn’t need to match Ali and Foreman’s eight rounds. Because Margaux doesn’t lose. And Saint-Julien doesn’t either.

And anyone who drinks both, especially side by side, wins by knockout… just ask our Bordeaux Wine Experience tour guests!

So we’ll keep the rivalry alive. And our guests will continue to sit ringside with us as these two titans go head-to-head: one chateau at a time, one vintage at a time.

Armistice Day in France
Before we wrap up, I want to pause for a moment of gratitude.

Here in France and around the world, November 11th is a time to honor those who served, sacrificed, and safeguarded the freedoms we sometimes take for granted.

It is a day to remember not just the battles fought, but the human lives touched, the families changed, and the resilience shown in the face of unimaginable challenges.

To the veterans in our community: Merci.

Your courage and dedication are deeply appreciated. Your service reminds us of the cost of liberty and the enduring value of peace.

Remembrance and Gratitude
Let us also take a moment to reflect on those who did not return, and on the countless acts of bravery, big and small, that often go unnoticed.

Each name, each story, is a thread in the fabric of our shared history, and today, we honor them all.

On this day, may gratitude guide our thoughts, and may remembrance inspire us to live with compassion, courage, and respect for the freedoms others fought to protect.

The Sixth Coffin
This reflection brings to mind a story that has always stayed with me: the Sixth Coffin.

Every November 11th, France pauses to mark the Armistice that ended the First World War. Millions died in the trenches, leaving villages across the country in deep mourning.

Every year, the names of the fallen are still read aloud, sometimes by their great-grandchildren. The main national ceremony, however, takes place on the Champs-Élysées, at the Arc de Triomphe and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

This ceremony is led, as always, by the President of the Republic.

Last week, Emmanuel Macron stood before the eternal flame. He unveiled a plaque honoring the Malgré-nous, men from Alsace and Moselle who died in German uniforms during the Second World War. Forgotten for decades, they are now recognized, victims of geography, not ideology.

Unknown Soldier
The tradition of the Unknown Soldier began after the war, when so many could no longer be counted or identified. In 1920, one nameless soldier from Verdun was chosen to rest beneath the Arc.

Eight coffins from different battlefields were brought to Verdun, and a young sergeant, Auguste Thin, who had lost his father in the war, was asked to choose one.

He selected the sixth, the number of his regiment. That sixth coffin became a vessel of collective memory.

Beneath the flame lies someone with a face no one remembers. Not a hero, not a martyr, not a symbol: simply someone.

You can join this Tribute
This single, unrecognizable life brings a nation to silence.

In Paris, the eternal flame is tended every day at 6:30 PM.

I highly encourage you to visit while passing through Paris.

Through storms, protests, or pandemics. Tourists, veterans, and passersby stop quietly to witness remembrance, a daily gesture of respect, not just a ceremony.

On this day, may gratitude guide our thoughts, and may remembrance inspire us to live with compassion, courage, and respect for the freedoms others fought to protect.

The sixth coffin quietly reminds us that every life — known or unknown — matters.

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.