Hey guys! I hope you've all been having an amazing Summer.
I ended up taking the past month off from the newsletter between a fair bit of travel and carving out some time to recharge. But we're back to our regularly scheduled programming! I'm also thinking about moving these to Fridays as a fun end-of-week recap, let me know what you think.
Today, we're diving into my recent trip to Bordeaux, one of France's most historic and celebrated wine regions. The way I ended up there was completely unexpected, and it turned into one of the most memorable wine trips I've ever taken. I can't wait to share it with you, enjoy!
A Trip to Bordeaux with Jimmy Butler đ
Recapping a trip to the coveted French wine region with an NBA All-star
This story really starts at the end of June, when I went to Jimmy's house in Southern California to open some wine with him. We ended up opening several bottles, many of them Bordeaux, and throughout the evening he kept telling me how much he loved the region. He mentioned that he was planning a trip at the end of July to visit some of the top estates and generously said that if I wanted to come, I should join.
At the time, I wasn't entirely convinced it wasn't just the wine talking. I figured he was probably just being polite, so I didn't think too much of it.
Fast forward a few weeks, and I decided to reach out to ask if the invitation still stood. His answer was an overwhelming yes. He sent me the itinerary, and I honestly couldn't believe what I was looking at. Over the course of a few days, we'd be visiting Cos d'Estournel, Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Lynch Bages, Château Lafite Rothschild, and finishing with dinner alongside the winemaker from Haut Brion. It almost didnât look real.
So, of course, I packed my bags and headed to Bordeaux.
Pictured: Wine at Cos d'Estournel
The first stop was at Cos d'Estournel, where we spent the afternoon with the team touring the winery, learning about the estate, and tasting both current and back vintages. We even opened some large format bottles for dinner, which stretched into the late hours of the night.
The following morning started with a shoot around on the basketball court at the Cos d'Estournel estate before we made our way to Château Mouton Rothschild, one of Bordeaux's five First Growths. Walking through the cellars was truly surreal. We toured the property before sitting down for an incredibly long lunch with members of the estate, tasting not only great Bordeaux but wines from remarkable producers around the world.
Pictured: Lunch at Mouton Rothschild
Later that same day we visited Château Lynch Bages, one of Jimmy's favorite estates. After another tour, we spent the evening with the owner, Kinou Cazes Hachemian, sharing older vintages over dinner, sipping Chartreuse, and somehow ending the night playing dominoes.
One of the highlights of the entire trip was our visit to Château Lafite Rothschild. Beyond its extraordinary history, what fascinated me most was learning about the work Saskia de Rothschild is doing to transition the vineyards toward organic and biodynamic farming. Seeing one of the world's most iconic estates invest so heavily in the future of its land was incredibly inspiring.
After touring the property, we sat down in the château's dining room and blind tasted an unforgettable lineup of older vintages, including 2010, 1990, 1989, and even 1949 (intentionally, the same year the NBA was founded).
That evening we finished with dinner hosted by Mahler-Besse alongside the team from Château La Mission Haut-Brion. The wines that night were extraordinary, with incredible vintages of Haut-Brion, Cheval Blanc, Château Margaux, and several others.
The question I've been asked more than anything since getting home is, "Did you actually like the wines?" It's a fair question because I usually gravitate toward younger, brighter, more energetic wines, Burgundy, Champagne, Jura, Styria, Oregon, and regions like that.
What I realized on this trip is that comparing those wines to 30 or 40 year old Bordeaux almost doesn't make sense. They're fundamentally different experiences. Older Bordeaux isn't simply "better" or "worse"; it's an entirely different expression of wine. The aromas, textures, and flavors have evolved into something so distinct that it almost feels like tasting a different product altogether. That, more than anything, is what I found so fascinating.
And of course, the wines were really delicious too.
Pictured: Lafite Rothschild Vineyards
I could honestly write pages about this trip and everything I took away from it, and I hope I'll get the chance to share more over time. Beyond the incredible wines and legendary estates, I walked away with a much deeper appreciation for Bordeaux, a region I admittedly hadn't spent much time with before.
Most of all, I'm incredibly grateful to Jimmy for inviting me along. It's not often you get the opportunity to experience a place like this through the eyes of someone who deeply loves it, and itâs a gesture of generosity I won't ever forget.
A Bordeaux Crash Course đŤđˇ
Three things that helped me understand Bordeaux
Bordeaux is one of the most historic wine regions in the world, with a winemaking tradition that stretches back nearly 2,000 years. It's home to some of the most famous, and often most intimidating, wines ever made, which means a lot of us (myself included) didn't have much exposure to the region when we were first getting into wine.
Pictured: Bordeaux. Image by LeDomduVin
After spending a few days exploring Bordeaux, I came away with a handful of simple ideas that made the region feel much more approachable. Here are the three that stuck with me:
1.) Bordeaux is divided into the Left Bank and the Right Bank
The two sides are separated by the Gironde Estuary. While both grow many of the same grapes, the Left Bank is generally associated with Cabernet Sauvignon, while the Right Bank is better known for Merlot. It's a simplification, but a fairly accepted idea.
Pictured: Right vs Left Bank. Image by Wine Enthusiast
2.) Bordeaux is home to the five First Growths
The region's most famous estates were recognized in the 1855 Classification, with Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Margaux, Château Mouton Rothschild, and Château Haut-Brion sitting at the very top. They're some of the most collectible wines in the world, but they're only a small part of what Bordeaux has to offer, there are hundreds of outstanding producers throughout the region.
Pictured: Five First Growths. Image by Sothebyâs
3.) Bordeaux is all about blending
Unlike regions that often focus on a single grape, Bordeaux's identity comes from blending. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and CarmÊnère each contribute something different, with winemakers using each variety to create wines that are balanced, complex, and expressive.
Image: Red Grapes in Bordeaux. Image by Wine Folly
There's obviously so much more to learn about Bordeaux, but these three ideas gave me a framework that made the region feel far less intimidating. Hopefully they do the same for you.
Producer Highlight â
One of our favorite parts of wine is the discovery: weâre constantly being put on to new regions, producers, and cuvĂŠes from our friends. Weâll never be able to try EVERY wine, but we want to take a moment to mention some producers that excite us!
Château Le Puy đˇ
Location: Saint-Cibard, Bordeaux, France đ
If Bordeaux has an original iconoclast, it is undoubtedly Château Le Puy. Long before biodynamics became fashionable, or even had a name, the Amoreau family was farming this remarkable estate according to the rhythms of nature, guided by traditions that stretch back to 1610.
Pictured: Château Le Puy Estate. Image by DutchWineApprentice
Perched 107 meters above sea level on one of the highest points in the Gironde, Le Puy occupies the same Asteries limestone plateau that continues beneath the great vineyards of Saint-Ămilion and Pomerol. Yet despite sharing the geological pedigree of its celebrated neighbors, the estate has always charted its own course, resisting the conventions that have come to define much of Bordeaux. Today, fourteen generations later, Jean-Pierre Amoreau and his family continue to steward the property with the same philosophy: that great wine begins with living soils, patience, and an unwavering respect for place.
Pictured: Amoreau Family. Image by Michel Fainsilber
That philosophy extends far beyond the vines. Le Puy is not simply a vineyard, but a complete ecosystem where forests, orchards, meadows, pollinator habitats, and vines coexist as a single living organism. Horses replace tractors for much of the vineyard work, herbicides and synthetic fertilizers have never touched the soils, and intervention in the cellar is kept to an absolute minimum. Fermentations rely solely on native yeasts, extraction is gentle, new oak is avoided in favor of older vessels, and the wines are bottled with little or no sulfur, depending on the cuvĂŠe. Everything is done with remarkable restraint, allowing the vineyard, not the cellar, to shape the final wine.
Pictured: Horses at Le Puy. Image by New York Times
The result is a style that feels almost timeless within Bordeaux: wines of remarkable freshness, power, and unmistakable identity. Le Puy embraces energy, texture, and a profound sense of place, with layers of dark fruit, wild herbs, earth, and mineral tension, without the richness or polish. In many ways, Château Le Puy represents an alternate history of Bordeaux, one where tradition was never abandoned, where farming remained inseparable from nature, and where conviction proved more enduring than fashion.
Château Le Puy holds a particularly special place in my brother's and my own wine journey. When we were first getting into wine, Bordeaux felt like a world that wasn't meant for us, expensive, intimidating, and bottles we'd never have the chance to drink.
Pictured: Le Puy Bottle
It wasn't until we dug deeper into the region that we discovered producers like Le Puy, estates whose philosophies felt much more aligned with the kinds of wines we were naturally drawn to. They became one of the first Bordeaux producers that truly resonated with us, and it completely changed the way we thought about the region.
Pictured: Le Puy in Drops of God. Image by Le Puy
One detail I've always loved is that Château Le Puy was featured in the iconic manga Drops of God, where one of its wines was famously described as a "miracle wine." The story introduced the estate to an entirely new audience around the world and helped cement Le Puy's reputation as one of Bordeaux's most singular and uncompromising producers.
Wine Club Updates đˇ đŚ
This month marks nearly one full year of the wine club! We're incredibly grateful to everyone who's been along for the journey, and we're excited to roll out even more for members this Fall.
This month's theme is all things Loire, featuring a few of our favorite grapes and producers from one of France's most exciting wine regions.
Not a member yet? You can sign up here:
That's it for today! We really appreciate your continued support. We'd also love to hear what you'd like to see in future newsletters, so feel free to let us know!
Thank so much for reading, and as always, drink responsibly! đĽ