This is Bonneau’s ‘grand vin’, his top wine, only released in good years. The wine is about 90% grenache with the remaining 10% made up of mourvèdre, counoise and vaccarèse. Most of the fruit comes from the Le Crau and Grand Pierre vineyards (sandy soils next to Chateau Rayas). It's a truly great wine that will stop you in your tracks.
“Henri Bonneau’s Réserve des Célestins is his greatest wine, and unequivocally the single greatest wine made in Châteauneuf du Pape today. In the old days it had its rivals, when Jacques Reynaud still was alive and making his magical elixirs at Château Rayas, or when Château de Beaucastel, Vieux Telegraphe, Château Fortia or Château la Nerthe were experiencing their salad days of greatest achievement. But today the Bonneau Réserve des Célestins sits alone at the summit, a lonely beacon of brilliant terroir and impeccable winemaking.”
John Gilman, A View From The Cellar.
“In contrast, the 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape Reserve des Célestins is a significant step up and has ample density and depth, as well as medium to full-bodied richness; the wine has lots of sweet kirsch and cherry fruits, garrigue and peppery aromas and flavors. In addition, the tannin is sweet and polished, and it has more concentration, depth and richness than most in the vintage.”
92-94 points, Jebb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate, Oct 2016.
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