2016 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins

Community Tasting Notes (2) Avg Score: 95.5 points

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  4/19/2024 - Juliansi Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Medium tannic grip, acid M+ and a classical herbal nose with aromas of garrique and more dried herbs. I thought.. this could be a CDP, but why does it look so young, and yet is so elegant.
  
  A very complex wine, and when unveiled by our kind host Patt0, it was clear why.. this CDP comes from the magnificent 2016 vintage, and it was not just any CDP. It is the iconic Réserve des Célestins!
  
  This is the late Henri Bonneau's top cuvée, and displays such intensity and concentration of black fruit. I have to agree.. this must be one of the finest CdPs one could enjoy!
  
  Whilst the 2015 Reserve Celestins was the last top cuvée that Henri made and put on barrels himself, I have to say it was a privilege to try this 2016 due to its vintage, and being able to admire how his son Marcel who had been at his father's side throughout their lives, has capably taken over.
  
  Production numbers? 1,500 bottles each year!
  
  2016 - An exceptional CDP vintage!
  Rather mild winter and a dry and cool spring, then the vines had to resist a hot summer. It was a hot albeit not blistering hot summer.
  
  In early August, over the Véraison ripening time, there were wide temperature variations between day and night, a positive factor that encourages polyphenol synthesis.
  
  Whilst the summer was particularly dry; Things changed in September.
  It was precisely the thin drizzle that fell continuously on 14 and 15 September that allowed the grapes to reach full maturity, without hampering the quality potential of a harvest! Perfection.
  
  Possibly the best vintage over 2 decades, until one goes back to 1990's perfection.
  
  The late Henri Bonneau (1938-2016) is one of the true legends of Châteauneuf du Pape. He is the 12th generation of Bonneaus to produce wine in Châteauneuf and is now aided in the cellars by his son, Marcel.
  
  Henri has 6 hectares of vineyards, split between 5.25ha in La Crau (arguably Châteauneuf’s finest terroir) and 0.75ha on stonier soil near Couthézon in the northeast of the appellation.
  
  Bonneau produces mainly from Grenache (80-90%) with small quantities of Mourvèdre, Counoise and Vaccarèse.
  
  Henri harvests as late as possible, a policy that usually produces super-ripe fruit although sometimes he does get caught out by October rains. Yields are kept low and vinification and elevage are traditional with the use of wooden foudres and smaller oak barrels.
  
  Typically the wine is aged in oak for 3-4 years before being bottled unfiltered. Whilst outstanding and super rare... I have to say, this is a wine which needs cellaring to at least 2030 before one pops the next bottle!
  
  Wines with View annual dinner, PJ, Malaysia
  19th Apr 2024

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  7/21/2022 - watcheslover Likes this wine: 98 Points

  Incredible wine, the best ever made here, a future legend, be very patient!
  
  2030-2060+++

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