We’re in the middle of a cold spell here in Bordeaux—both outside and inside, as our chateau’s heating system has broken down.

As a result, I’m writing this Magazine bundled up in thermal underwear and two thick sweaters while the repair crew works tirelessly to fix a broken pipe.

Ah, the joys of chateau life!

Yesterday I definitely needed a glass (or two) of Bordeaux to stay warm.

Fingers crossed; maybe the heating will be back tonight as promised.

Though after 24 years of living in France, I know such promises are never a guarantee…

But let’s get back to wine.

The new label of Mouton 2022 released
Those of you that have toured with me know Mouton Rothschild holds a special place in my heart and cellar, with my collection dating back to the legendary 1945 vintage.

I awaited the 2022 release with extra anticipation—not just for the wine but also for its label art.

Rated a perfect 20/20 in my futures tasting notes, Mouton 2022 was my “Left Bank” wine of the vintage, and its label is just as exceptional.

Cellar Confessions
And I have another edition of my popular series of Cellar Confessions for you.

Today the cellar that is featured here is the cellar of
Larry Martin.

Larry and his wife Natalia toured with us in 2022. And they had a great time as may show from their comments after their experience with us:

“Thank you for organizing and hosting the most amazing trip for us! The week was filled with laughter, great food, great company, and great talks. 

We appreciated getting an insider information from Ronald on French people and culture. 

It was an unforgettable experience to visit some of the most known chateaus and get tours from their owners.”

Join us in 2025
Speaking of touring with us, we have one double and one single room in May.

And there is one single room left for September 2025—our last available spots!

Still unsure? Click the image to watch a short video of how single travelers loved our tours. Hope to see you in Bordeaux!

This is your chance! Request your itinerary today and prepare for an unforgettable experience.

Why Have a Wine Cellar?

This question comes up often, and I feel that there are two main reasons:

Variety: A well-stocked cellar lets you enjoy different vintages, producers, regions, and countries.

Aging Wines: Great wines, especially Bordeaux, improve with age.

On our tours, guests taste recent vintages alongside bottles 20–40 years old, discovering how wines evolve over time.

While many guests have cellars or wine fridges, it’s not essential to enjoy fine wine.

Our tours cater to collectors and newcomers alike—why not start with the best?

Now, let’s take a peek inside Larry’s cellar!

What inspired you to start a wine collection and when did you start?

We really view the start of our collection being when we moved into our newly built home in February 2021.

Up until then we just had a wine chiller (that would hold about 150 wines).

The real motivation behind the cellar is twofold:  we like a wide variety of wines, but I prefer old wines.

Ronald, you are to blame, by the way!

The Bordeaux Wine Experience confirmed for me that I prefer the old ones.

For these wines to be affordable for us, it means that we need to hold them.

We found ourselves with a lot of wine coming from the various cellar clubs as well.

How many bottles do you have and what part of your cellar represents Bordeaux?

At this point we have about 500 bottles.

You may find it amusing or interesting to note that we have a couple of hundred wines stored for Pam (yes, your 4x guest).

We have about 70 bottles of Bordeaux, minus the three we drank in the last couple of days.

We drank our 1983 Clos Fourtet followed by a 2015 Le Carillon de l’Angelus Sunday night with our friends (he’s French and owns a French cafe & wine bar nearby)

And we’re having a 2005 Chateau Gazin Pomerol tonight – just because.

The Clos Fourtet 1983 was flat on first tasting, and I was disappointed, but then it opened marvelously in 10 minutes.)

All told, we have drunk 60 bottles of Bordeaux, so I’m not sure how to best compute that as a percentage.

What’s the most memorable Bordeaux you have ever tasted and why was it so unforgettable?

The most memorable Bordeaux for me was a 1985 Chateau Haut Brion. Simply the best wine I’ve ever had,

You may remember that I picked Haut Brion over the blind side-by-side tasting against Chateau Margaux you did during the Farewell Dinner on our tour with you.

I think there was only one other person that voted with me. Lol!

Otherwise, I’d like to find some more of my birth year wines.  The 1959 Clos Fourtet you helped me pick on the tour was exceptional!

What would be your dream Bordeaux wine; the one, money aside, you would love to taste one day?

I would like to taste a Petrus, just because it is rumored to be exceptional.

Otherwise, I like so many but anything Haut Brion, Palmer, Angelus, and Pavie.

Let’s say you must flee for a tsunami. Your loved-ones and pets are safe.
You have two minutes to run to your cellar and may pick three bottles to take with you.
Which three would you select and why?

Unfair question!  I’d have to consult my CellarTracker! Lol.

I’d have to go for those I would think I couldn’t replace: 1989 Clos Fourtet (the old ones have proven to be so, so solid);

1990 Chateau Haut-Brion; 1990 Chateau l’Evangile (which I’ve never tasted, and probably can’t replace).

I have a 1995 and 1996 Chateau Pontet-Canet but those are meant for a vertical tasting sometime, and I couldn’t eat up two of my three choices on a single chateau.

The Bordeaux 2022 vintage, can it get even better?

We have been spoilt by so many great vintages in the last 20 years that I sometimes ask myself: Can it get even better?

Well, after having tasted the 2022 on futures, my answer was a resounding yes!

I was a bit worried before tasting this vintage because of the four heatwaves we experienced that year.

Great for the ripeness and the alcohol but challenging for the so-important freshness.

This freshness was sometimes lacking in previous hot vintages, especially in the vintage 2003.

Big surprise
The big surprise was this remarkable freshness, beautiful ripe fruit and tannins that were among the best I have ever experienced in barrel samples.

Both approachable and for the long term

I personally think that this vintage in general will be approachable in about 5 years.

And the better ones will possibly keep another 30 to 40 years (and I do hope I will be still around to enjoy them…).

The Mouton 2022 is Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy’s second vintage as Estate Manager.

Not just one but three chateaux: Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Clerc Milon, and Château d’Armailhac.

Despite the challenges, his debut vintage (2021) became my “wine of the vintage.”

The vintage 2022 had different challenges but had all the potential of producing another outstanding Mouton.

And man, did he outperform!

I tasted the Mouton Rothschild 2022 on futures with Philippe de Sereys de Rothschild, now in charge of this remarkable First Growth.

But let’s talk about the label first. I will get back to this extraordinary wine later.

A tribute to Baron Philippe

In his 1981 autobiography “Vivre la Vigne,” Baron Philippe de Rothschild wondered if anyone would one day honor his 1922 arrival at Château Mouton Rothschild.

First he achieved the unthinkable by elevating Mouton to First Growth status in 1973.

Now, 50 years later, his dream lives on with the 2022 label.

The 2022 features Gérard Garouste’s artwork—a heraldic banner framed by Baron Philippe’s portrait and Mouton’s iconic ram, a nod to his Aries sign (actually just like Margaret and me, by the way).

Garouste drew inspiration from conversations with Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild and archival photos of Baron Philippe:

“It was really my discussions with Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild that inspired me.

I wanted to know more about his grandfather’s amazing life.

I find it fascinating that Baron Philippe chose the ram’s head as a symbol, as it features in both Greek and biblical mythology.

The facade of the Grand Chai is a symbol for Mouton Rothschild.

I also included the fruit of the vine, and all the symbolism of a wonderful wine that was his life’s work.”

Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild, co-owner of Château Mouton Rothschild, oversees its artistic and cultural activities.

He noted that Garouste’s painting invites interpretation, with the iconic ram featured on many previous labels.

Garouste’s work has been exhibited in topmuseums worldwide.

Mouton Rothschild 2022 tasting notes and ratings
By Ronald Rens, M.Sc., Wine Master

As much as I like the label and as much, I’ll enjoy adding the 2022 to my extensive Mouton collection, it is the wine that is the most important of course.

I’ll give you my tasting notes from the futures tastings:

Mouton Rothschild 2022 (20 points/20)
[92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot]

The color goes more towards intense red than purple with a delicate garnet rim.

A superb expressive nose that shows even more when it opens up.

Concentrated aromas of ripe black fruit with blackcurrant and blackberry notes.

The superb fruit is interwoven with the remarkable velvety tannins and an exemplary balance.

This is so good that I forgot to spit!

Interestingly I do not find the sometimes-dominating freshness of this vintage. Don’t get me wrong, the freshness is there, but is seems somehow more integrated.

The wine is more classic in style and simply outstanding even as the sample is slightly dominated by the wood.

The wine shows hints of coffee, vanilla, toasted bread and the spices that reveal a great Mouton.

The freshness is there but is not dominating like I have tasted elsewhere. I just love the ripe and structured tannins.

My rating? 20/20; What else! This is definitely my Left Bank wine of the vintage.

I know understand Philippe de Rothschild’s big smile when he welcomed me. This is a great Mouton that will age for decades.

This is definitely one of the most exclusive tours that we offer. Embark on the Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour, an experience that exudes opulence in every aspect, from exquisite cuisine to exceptional wines.

Indulge in chateau-meals that transcend ordinary dining, offering an exclusive and luxurious culinary journey.

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

Immerse yourself in a world of culinary opulence, where each bite is a testament to the artistry of Bordeaux’s culinary tradition.

As if that weren’t enough, the tour presents a rare opportunity to taste all five First Growths of over 20 years old, plus the Superior First Growth Chateau d’Yquem of over 30 years old!

The combination of exclusive dining, exceptional wines, and the opportunity to savor aged vintages makes this tour a cherished and unforgettable journey for those seeking the epitome of Bordeaux’s culinary and oenophilic 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.

The pinnacle of excitement in Bordeaux unfolds during harvest time, a period where anticipation permeates the air, and the vineyards come alive with energy.

Prepare to be amazed as you savor the exquisite taste of all five First Growths of over 20 years old plus the distinguished Superior First Growth Chateau d’Yquem of over 30 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.

It’s this combination of extraordinary tastings and exclusive gastronomic adventures that places this tour in such high demand, creating an irresistible allure for Bordeaux enthusiasts seeking the epitome of wine, culinary excellence, and the unique charm of harvest season.

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