The was the last Celestin made by Henri Bonneau. A true collectable.
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.
“Looking at the barrels designated for the 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Reserve Célestins, which always comes from the famed la Crau lieu-dit, it offers a big, mouth-filling, chewy profile as well as classic dark fruits, garrigue, pot roast, pepper and cured meats aromas and flavors. It has lots of tannin, but everything is perfectly ripe, and this is a sensational looking effort. It’s worth noting that this will be the last wine ever vinified by Henri, and it certainly looks to be a fitting tribute to an incredible winemaker.”
95-97 points Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate #227, October 2016.
“A clear step up over the Marie Beurrier release, the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve des Célestins was the star of the show on this occasion, and this tannic, full-bodied beauty would no doubt be loved by Henri. Cassis, earth, garrigue, licorice and assorted black fruits all emerge from this deep purple-colored effort and it’s tannic, structured and deep.”
94-96 points, Jeb Dunnuck, October 2017.
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