Over the intervening years, I’ve tasted a lot of wine, some of them as good as that legendary 1959 Ch. Haut-Brion. One that I’m particularly keen on now is the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Neyers Ranch’, a wine made by our long-time winemaker Tadeo Borchardt.

“A well known French winemaker once told me that he thought all wines should be bottled in magnums. When we opened this bottle recently, I understood just what he meant.”

A year as an apprentice winemaker in Europe changed that, and I quickly gained an appreciation for fine wines that fit my budget. I was amazed at how many there were, and how much I liked them.

In a cool growing season like the one we enjoyed in 2023, the vines take their time maturing the grapes – we harvested on October 9 — and we were rewarded with a wine of handsomely dark color, subtle yet exotic aromas of blackberries and plums, and complex spices — Cardamom, Nutmeg, and Allspice. Most attractive though, is the long, delicious finish that surrounds the wine, making it gratifying to drink.