Bordeaux Mondays at Bisous: Rare Bordeaux by the Glass in Amsterdam

Bordeaux Mondays at Bisous: Rare Bordeaux by the Glass in Amsterdam.

In a city where wine bars and restaurants increasingly compete to showcase exceptional cellars, Restaurant Bisous in Amsterdam has introduced an initiative that will immediately capture the attention of Bordeaux enthusiasts. With the launch of “Bordeaux Mondays” the restaurant opens the doors to a remarkable private collection, allowing guests to experience mature Bordeaux wines—often rarely available outside auctions or collectors’ tables—served by the glass.

The concept is simple yet compelling. Each Monday evening revolves around a specific Bordeaux theme, ranging from a particular vintage to a celebrated subregion. The wines themselves originate from the cellar of a dedicated private collector and longtime friend of the restaurant. For guests, this means access to bottles that have been carefully cellared and are now entering their optimal drinking window.

For many Bordeaux lovers, such bottles are typically only encountered in full-bottle purchases, often at significant cost. By pouring them by the glass—and deliberately keeping margins low—Bisous creates an opportunity to explore some of the region’s most iconic wines in a far more accessible way.

A Weekly Journey Through Bordeaux

The rotating themes ensure that no two Mondays are the same. Each session highlights a different aspect of Bordeaux’s rich and diverse landscape.

The inaugural evening on 2 March focuses on Pomerol, the small Right Bank appellation famed for its Merlot-driven wines, celebrated for their velvety textures and remarkable depth. Among the wines poured are Hosanna 2008, La Providence 2005, Trotanoy 2014, and Gazin 2005—a lineup that captures both the elegance and quiet power for which the appellation is known.

On 9 March, the spotlight shifts to the 2006 vintage, offering guests the chance to revisit a year often overshadowed by its more celebrated neighbors yet capable of producing wines of great balance and structure. The selection includes Château Gruaud Larose 2006, Château Palmer 2006, Château Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2006, and Trotanoy 2006.

The third themed evening, on 15 March, is dedicated to Grand Cru Bordeaux, featuring some of the region’s most prestigious names. Guests may find themselves tasting wines such as Château Lafite Rothschild 1999, Château Latour 1998, and Château Margaux 2004—bottles that exemplify the enduring allure of Bordeaux’s First Growth estates.

A Cellar Worth Talking About

The driving force behind the initiative is Maître-Sommelier Erwin Walthaus, who joined Bisous at its opening in 2024. Walthaus is a highly respected figure within the Dutch hospitality scene. His career began at the age of seventeen at De Kersentuin, where he first encountered restaurateur Joop Braakhekke. He later followed Braakhekke to the legendary Le Garage, where he spent more than three decades refining his craft as maître-sommelier.

At Bisous, Walthaus now curates the Bordeaux Monday’s experience.

“We gained access to a wine cellar that leaves you speechless,” he explains. “If you have a favorite château, a vintage you’ve always wanted to try, or a bottle you dream of tasting by the glass, let us know. Who knows—we might open it on a Monday.”

The pricing reflects the restaurant’s philosophy of accessibility. A glass of Bordeaux during these evenings ranges roughly between €20 and €170, the higher end reserved for rare Grand Cru bottles from the 1990s.

Food to Match the Wines

Complementing the wines is the cuisine of Executive Chef Thomas Kooijman, who joined Bisous in September 2025. Previously Chef de Cuisine at the Michelin-starred MOS and earlier at Bar Alt, Kooijman brings a refined yet relaxed culinary approach.

At the start of March, he introduces a new menu, blending popular Bisous classics with new dishes. Alongside this, the restaurant launches a weekly Chef’s Menu, a three-course menu priced at €55, available for dinner from Monday to Wednesday and for lunch from Thursday to Saturday.

For Bordeaux Mondays specifically, Kooijman prepares a main course designed to pair seamlessly with classic red Bordeaux—dishes that emphasize depth, balance, and the kind of savoury richness that allows mature Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to shine.

Rediscovering Bordeaux

Behind the concept lies a broader ambition. Co-owner Bas Noorman explains that the restaurant deliberately keeps its margins modest for these evenings.

The goal is not only to showcase rare bottles, but also to reintroduce Bordeaux to a broader audience—particularly younger wine drinkers who may know the region primarily by reputation rather than experience.

In doing so, Bisous taps into something fundamental about Bordeaux itself: its wines are at their most compelling when shared. By bringing mature bottles out of the cellar and into the glass, Bordeaux Mondays transforms what might otherwise remain collectors’ treasures into an accessible and communal experience.

For wine lovers in Amsterdam, Mondays suddenly look considerably more interesting. Be sure to reserve your seat, because who would not want to miss out on this!

This article is written by our own Niels Aarts. Picture credits: Restaurant Bisous, supported by Trees PR.