As fireworks light up the sky this Fourth of July, Americans everywhere are raising a glass to celebration, resilience, and tradition.

And just across the Atlantic, a similar story is unfolding here in Bordeaux.

The 2025 vintage is being shaped not by comfort and ease, but by the quiet triumphs of small adaptations and innovation.

Despite a growing season marked by weather drama and pressure in the vines, there’s a rising sense of optimism: 2025 may be a small but mighty vintage…

One that promises to surprise collectors and delight casual drinkers alike (If only I could say the same about my five- and seven-year-olds😂).

Typically, this early summer drama makes the vintage uneven: excellent at top estates, patchy elsewhere — we’ll dive into this shortly.

Sneak peak
In this issue I will give you a first look at the Bordeaux vintage 2025 in the making.

The opposite of a tsunami
And we’ll continue our series of Cellar confessions with a remarkable issue about Jim’s cellar. Water  hardly was his problem when running to and from his cellar!

Raising our glass
But first, from Bordeaux, where Maud, Margaret, Ronald, and I are raising our glasses of 2008 Chateau Haut Brion.

Not just to the promise of 2025, but to the challenges we weather, the small victories we celebrate, and the enduring friendships we cultivate.

After all, independence, wherever you are in the world, always tastes better with a splash of Bordeaux.

Last chance to join in 2025
Last chance to tour with Ronald and Margaret.

They have one single room left for September 2025

Their last available spot ever!

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

2026 Bordeaux Wine Tour Schedule

The Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour I
May 25 – 30, 2026

The Bordeaux Grand Cru Tour II
June 1 – 6, 2026 (under option)

The Bordeaux Grand Cru Harvest Tour I
September 15-19, 2026

The Bordeaux Grand Cru Harvest Tour II
September 21 – 26, 2026

Bordeaux 2025, an early look
As we shift from celebration to closer inspection, let’s take stock of where the 2025 vintage stands today—and where it may be headed.

The growing season has been anything but dull.

A warm, wet spring set the stage for high mildew pressure, hitting many vineyards just as flowering began.

Organic and biodynamic producers were particularly vulnerable, with some reporting notable crop losses in early June.

Heatwave
Then came the heat. A significant June heatwave brought soaring temperatures, rapidly drying out the region and limiting the mildew’s spread — but at a cost.

Some younger vines struggled with water stress, and fruit set was uneven in certain areas.

Still, the Cabernet Sauvignon vines on gravel-rich soils weathered it well.

Many producers report small, concentrated berries with healthy tannin structure.

In other words: quality over quantity.

Challenges
In vintages like 2025—defined by early-season challenges and uneven conditions—the gap between good and great becomes more visible.

Top estates with the resources, experience, and vineyard discipline to respond decisively in real time will likely produce wines of exceptional character.

These producers were the first to adapt:

– Selective canopy management protected clusters from excessive heat
– Precision spraying limited the mildew impact without over-treating
– Finally, a rigorous green harvesting and fruit sorting ensured that only the healthiest grapes reached the cellar.

2025, a technical vintage
In short, 2025 is shaping up to be a vintage where the best winemaking practices, often invisible in easy years, will define the wines.

Expect Left Bank powerhouses like Pauillac and Saint Julien to deliver concentrated, age-worthy reds.

Right Bank estates that managed mildew pressure will also shine, especially from older-vine Merlot on clay-limestone soils.

I personally, really enjoy swirling a glass of Chateau Margaux (I do not confirm or deny that my daughter, Margaux, is named after this wine😉).

Skill, foresight, and flexibility
We look ahead to what 2025 may bring, we find ourselves returning to the very qualities we toasted at the start: resilience, adaptation, and quiet triumphs.

Just as Independence Day reminds us that freedom is rarely won easily, or alone (as my French wife, Maud, is fond of reminding me).

This vintage will be a testament to the skill, foresight, and flexibility of those who tend Bordeaux’s finest vines.

While the yields may be modest, and the weather uneven, the rewards for careful stewardship will be profound.

Why Have a Wine Cellar?

This question comes up often, and we 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 Jim’s cellar!

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

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and my parents would always take trips to Napa at least once a year. This was back in the late 60’s.

That’s when my interest in wine first developed. As time went on I began to learn about French wines by reading and visiting local wine shops in the area.

As my love for French wines blossomed, I realized that I couldn’t pronounce their names correctly; so I started taking French language classes at the local community college after work. And I loved it!!!

After taking 3 semesters of French, I went to Nice for 3 weeks where I lived with a family and took an intensive (8 hrs./day) immersion course.

Naturally at home with the family all we spoke was French.

At the end of that time I was dreaming in French and my mouth hurt as it was not used to making some of the sounds necessary for the language.

But everyone could understand me! Honestly, I didn’t want to come home.

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

I have about 1500 bottles in my cellar and Bordeaux represents over 1/3rd.

In total, French wines make up about 2/3rd of my cellar. Besides Bordeaux.

I also have some Rhone and Burgundy wines (although not as much of the latter as I would like due to their price).

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

This is a very difficult question. I think it would be the 1st time I had a 1st Growth.

It was the 1970 Chateau Lafite Rothschild.

I was living in Champaign, Illinois at the time and purchased a case of it for the ungodly price of $360.00.

I drove up to Chicago to pick it up (150 mi. each way). This was in 1975. I didn’t taste the wine until years later.

The wine was quite good but wasn’t fabulous.

And there was a fair amount of bottle variation within the case.

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

That’s easy. Petrus without a doubt!

I’ve had a taste and that’s it. I loved the depth of flavor and aromas, mouthfeel, and extremely long finish.

I would love to try it again but sadly can’t afford it.

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?

this question hits home more than you know. In southern California we are prone to wildfires.

And that is especially true here in San Diego.

In October 2003 there was such a wildfire which ended up destroying hundreds of homes in San Diego county.

I live next to a large park here. The fire burned through the park.

Firefighters and the police came by saying we had to evacuate.

Most of my neighbors left, but I and a couple of others stayed.

As the fire grew closer visibility dropped to zero!

Outside, embers were falling everywhere. It reminded me of Pompeii.

Fortunately we have tile roofs so they held up.

I decided to drive around the block to see if I could find out how far away the fire was.

When I turned the corner, I saw flames that were higher than the eucalyptus trees that served as a border between our neighborhood and the park.

At that point I turned around and went back home. Fortunately I had already packed my important papers and some clothes in my car.

So I went to my wine cellar. I didn’t have 2 minutes because the fire was closing in fast!

I grabbed two 3-liter bottles of Bordeaux, a 1990 Chateau Margaux and a 1990 Chateau Latour and left.

I had no idea if I was going to have a wine cellar much less a home when I returned.

Fortunately for me everything turned out fine.

But my neighbors who lived up against the park weren’t so lucky.

They suffered extensive damage to their homes.

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 20 years old, plus the Superior First Growth Chateau d’Yquem of over 30 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 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.

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.