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Cellar Favorite: 1961 & 2019 Smith Haut Lafitte
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Bordeaux
, Feb 2026
There is nothing greater than a good man, and Daniel Cathiard was a good man. He and his wife, Florence, took Smith Haut-Lafitte, a once dilapidated estate, and devoted their lives to creating two of the region’s finest wines, both red and white. These two bottles were opened with my oldest friends to raise a toast to Daniel Cathiard.
Bordeaux 2023 in Bottle: Coming Around Again
featured, France: Bordeaux
, Feb 2026
Though Bordeaux has its travails, the vintages continue to roll. The bottled 2023s have much to offer those seeking a less concentrated style of claret than the previous vintage provided. As usual, 2023 is not a season without caveats, and as always, it is important to choose wisely. Those who do could be handsomely rewarded.
Cellar Favorite: 2005 Le Dôme
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Bordeaux
, Feb 2026
Having consistently tasted Le Dôme since the maiden 1996 vintage, it is always fascinating to return to those earliest vintages. The 2005 is drinking perfectly now, and will offer another 12 to 15 years’ drinking pleasure.
Cellar Favorite: 1962 La Gaffelière
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Bordeaux
, Jan 2026
My experience with older vintages of La Gaffelière is few and far between, but I had heard others wax lyrical about bottles from the 1950s and 1960s. A group of friends recently poured the 1962 at dinner, and I was absolutely smitten.
Cellar Favorite: 1986 Mouton-Rothschild
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Bordeaux
, Dec 2025
I have been waiting to write this Cellar Favorite for many years. Put me on record as stating that the 1986 Mouton-Rothschild is one of the greatest wines of that decade.
Cellar Favorite: 1947 Petrus
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Bordeaux
, Dec 2025
The 1947 Petrus is one of the most legendary Bordeaux wines of the twentieth century. It is endowed with unerring symmetry and, like the genuine legends of the twentieth century, seems undiminished by time.
Battle Royale! Bordeaux 1961, 1982, 1990 & 1995
Verticals & Retrospectives, featured, France: Bordeaux featured Verticals and Retrospectives, France: Bordeaux Verticals and Retrospectives featured, France: Bordeaux
, Dec 2025
In this Battle Royale, four renowned Bordeaux vintages enter the ring to see who comes out on top. Take a ringside seat for a wrestling tag match between 1961, 1982, 1990 and 1995. Let the “battle” commence!
Cellar Favorite: 1967 Certan de May
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Bordeaux
, Nov 2025
Travelling back in time, Bordeaux is full of lesser-known pockets of excellence—often dismissed vintages where one or two appellations bucked the trend. Nineteen sixty-seven is one of those.
Cellar Favorite: 1949 Lagrange (Saint-Julien)
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Bordeaux
, Oct 2025
Provenance is the most important factor that determines the quality of a mature claret. A magnum of 1949 Château Lagrange that was recently served blind at the estate in Saint-Julien exemplified this.
Cellar Favorite: 1998 Grand Mayne
cellar favorite, Cellar Favorites, France: Bordeaux
, Oct 2025
The 1998 Grand Mayne probably marked my introduction to this Saint-Émilion estate. Now at 27 years of age, this might actually represent the best bottle I have encountered.