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Henri Bonneau

17 notes Sort by: Vintage - Name - Rating

2009
96
A more civilized style of Celestins, the wine is incredibly ripe, but not overripe. Round, soft, forward and concentrated, the fruit is clean, spicy, earthy and fresh. Interestingly, at this time, the wine is disarmingly easy to drink with just an hour or 2 of air.

A more civilized style of Celestins, the wine is incredibly ripe, but not overripe. Round, soft, forward and concentrated, the fruit is clean, spicy, earthy and fresh. Interestingly, at this time, the wine is disarmingly easy to drink with just an hour or 2 of air.

5,060 Views   Tasted
2007
97
Rich, dense, ripe and even over ripe to some degree, there is a lot going here. Intense, sweet, fat juicy, red berries, kirsch, earth, herbs, barnyard and figs on the mouth and palate. There is a touch of heat, but there is such a wealth of fruit here, I suspect everything will come together as it ages.

Rich, dense, ripe and even over ripe to some degree, there is a lot going here. Intense, sweet, fat juicy, red berries, kirsch, earth, herbs, barnyard and figs on the mouth and palate. There is a touch of heat, but there is such a wealth of fruit here, I suspect everything will come together as it ages.

4,747 Views   Tasted
2006
94
Medium-bodied and quite forward for Bonneau Celestins, the wine is perhaps more interesting on the nose with its blast of garrigue, kirsch and thyme-scented perfume. Soft, open and fruity, with a hint of black pepper in the cherry centric, earthy finish, this is already in its prime time drinking window. This is a nice Chateauneuf, but not a great vintage for Celestins.

Medium-bodied and quite forward for Bonneau Celestins, the wine is perhaps more interesting on the nose with its blast of garrigue, kirsch and thyme-scented perfume. Soft, open and fruity, with a hint of black pepper in the cherry centric, earthy finish, this is already in its prime time drinking window. This is a nice Chateauneuf, but not a great vintage for Celestins.

4,712 Views   Tasted
2005
96
Packed and stacked with incredibly big waves of meaty, peppery, kirsch, herbs, spice and black raspberry liqueur. Thick, dense and palate coating, this tannic, intense wine demands at least a decade and probably more of bottle age before it becomes civilized.

Packed and stacked with incredibly big waves of meaty, peppery, kirsch, herbs, spice and black raspberry liqueur. Thick, dense and palate coating, this tannic, intense wine demands at least a decade and probably more of bottle age before it becomes civilized.

5,750 Views   Tasted
2004
94
Impressive layers of concentrated fruit, with complex aromatics and a great sense of purity of fruit in the rich finish. Time should add more complexity to this meaty wine.

Impressive layers of concentrated fruit, with complex aromatics and a great sense of purity of fruit in the rich finish. Time should add more complexity to this meaty wine.

3,794 Views   Tasted
2001
98
Lush, soft, and supple, the wine offers sweet, pure kirsch, herbs, and peppery spices with a unique textural experience at every twist, turn, sniff and sip. No decanting is needed here. Just pop, pour and enjoy. Drink from 2023-2035.

Lush, soft, and supple, the wine offers sweet, pure kirsch, herbs, and peppery spices with a unique textural experience at every twist, turn, sniff and sip. No decanting is needed here. Just pop, pour and enjoy. Drink from 2023-2035.

3,165 Views   Tasted
The other Chateauneuf du Pape I never get to taste often enough, (after Rayas) this is already showing just great. Earthy, spicy, barnyard accented ripe, kirsch, pepper, and cherry notes come along with an array of spices. More elegantly textured on the palate than most vintages of Celestins and cleaner on the nose and palate as well, this is a treat for the senses that will continue to age and evolve for at least another 10-15 or 20 years, depending on the provenance.

The other Chateauneuf du Pape I never get to taste often enough, (after Rayas) this is already showing just great. Earthy, spicy, barnyard accented ripe, kirsch, pepper, and cherry notes come along with an array of spices. More elegantly textured on the palate than most vintages of Celestins and cleaner on the nose and palate as well, this is a treat for the senses that will continue to age and evolve for at least another 10-15 or 20 years, depending on the provenance.

3,633 Views   Tasted
For a Celestins, this is almost refined in character. This is an elegant, fresh expression of everything that’s great about the idiosyncratic wines of Henri Bonneau. Maturing at a rapid pace for Celestins, the wine grabbed your attention and kept it for good reason due to all its sweet ripe red fruits, spice, grilled meat, garrigue and peppery character. This is quite good now and it could get better.

For a Celestins, this is almost refined in character. This is an elegant, fresh expression of everything that’s great about the idiosyncratic wines of Henri Bonneau. Maturing at a rapid pace for Celestins, the wine grabbed your attention and kept it for good reason due to all its sweet ripe red fruits, spice, grilled meat, garrigue and peppery character. This is quite good now and it could get better.

3,148 Views   Tasted
Based on the color, you'd swear this was at least 10 or maybe 20 years older than its true age, due to its light hue. On the palate, the wine was fresh, sweet, silky, polished and long. The texture was exotic and you could easily say the same thing about the ripe kirsch on the palate. The nose was complex, the fruit was there, but it was far more advanced than the other high-end 2001 Chateauneuf du Papes opened in the same flight.

Based on the color, you'd swear this was at least 10 or maybe 20 years older than its true age, due to its light hue. On the palate, the wine was fresh, sweet, silky, polished and long. The texture was exotic and you could easily say the same thing about the ripe kirsch on the palate. The nose was complex, the fruit was there, but it was far more advanced than the other high-end 2001 Chateauneuf du Papes opened in the same flight.

3,503 Views   Tasted
This sports an herb, spicy kirsch and cherry nose. Good body. Nice entry. Elegant for young Celestins in a good vintage. When tasting together, the owner of this famed Chateauneuf du Pape offered sage advice. "Drink good wine with friends, but drink your great wine with a lover." He has a good idea there, if you ask me.

This sports an herb, spicy kirsch and cherry nose. Good body. Nice entry. Elegant for young Celestins in a good vintage. When tasting together, the owner of this famed Chateauneuf du Pape offered sage advice. "Drink good wine with friends, but drink your great wine with a lover." He has a good idea there, if you ask me.

5,821 Views   Tasted
2001
92
Filled with animal scents, grilled steak, kirsch, earth, fresh cracked pepper and garrigue, this rich, concentrated, deep wine is packed with layers of ripe Grenache with the stuffing and structure to continue to age and evolve.

Filled with animal scents, grilled steak, kirsch, earth, fresh cracked pepper and garrigue, this rich, concentrated, deep wine is packed with layers of ripe Grenache with the stuffing and structure to continue to age and evolve.

3,428 Views   Tasted
2000
93
A very fine wine, but it lacks the depth of flavor and ripeness in the fruits and tannins, I was hoping for. Still, it is hard to miss the unique, barnyard, dark red berry, peppery, garrigue character that is found from start to finish.

A very fine wine, but it lacks the depth of flavor and ripeness in the fruits and tannins, I was hoping for. Still, it is hard to miss the unique, barnyard, dark red berry, peppery, garrigue character that is found from start to finish.

3,706 Views   Tasted
Light ruby, red in color with aromatics of Kirsch, Garrigue and jammy strawberries. Silky entry, but where was the concentration, complexity and character? Where was the beef? The elegant, red fruit finish was nice, but from Celestins, I expect more than nice.

Light ruby, red in color with aromatics of Kirsch, Garrigue and jammy strawberries. Silky entry, but where was the concentration, complexity and character? Where was the beef? The elegant, red fruit finish was nice, but from Celestins, I expect more than nice.

4,894 Views   Tasted
1999
93
Take a bowl of ripe cherries, add some barnyard funk, earth and garrigue, you get an idea about this wines character. On the palate, the wine is soft, inviting and ready for prime time drinking.

Take a bowl of ripe cherries, add some barnyard funk, earth and garrigue, you get an idea about this wines character. On the palate, the wine is soft, inviting and ready for prime time drinking.

4,697 Views   Tasted
The nose jumped out of the glass with scents of forests, spices, licorice, coffee, black fruits, pepper and ripe, fresh strawberries purchased from the Farmers Market! Full bodied, good acidity and the 14% ABV was completely buried. Although I suspect the ABV was higher. Very ripe fruit. The only way I can describe this wine entering your mouth is picturing biting into ripe plums and savoring the fruit while it remained on your palate!

The nose jumped out of the glass with scents of forests, spices, licorice, coffee, black fruits, pepper and ripe, fresh strawberries purchased from the Farmers Market! Full bodied, good acidity and the 14% ABV was completely buried. Although I suspect the ABV was higher. Very ripe fruit. The only way I can describe this wine entering your mouth is picturing biting into ripe plums and savoring the fruit while it remained on your palate!

3,081 Views   Tasted
Dark, opaque color. Cherries, earth, pepper, black fruit and herbs explode from the glass. Thick, dense, concentrated, full bodied, beefy and opulent. Black cherries and dark, sweet black fruit on the palate. This has a long life ahead. A unique style of Chateauneuf.

Dark, opaque color. Cherries, earth, pepper, black fruit and herbs explode from the glass. Thick, dense, concentrated, full bodied, beefy and opulent. Black cherries and dark, sweet black fruit on the palate. This has a long life ahead. A unique style of Chateauneuf.

2,810 Views   Tasted
1998
98
Still showing a serious depth of color here, this is an incredibly intense tasting experience. The wine is massive, yet, balanced. Ripe, but not overripe, although there is a sensation of jam on top of all the dark red, peppery fruits. Thick enough to eat, the spicy kirsch, horsey barnyard, garrigue and wet earth really make an impression. Rich and endless on your palate, this is still young. Give it an hour or two of air, or wait another 6-8 years. This is a unique styling of Chateauneuf du Pape that is not repeated in other wines.

Still showing a serious depth of color here, this is an incredibly intense tasting experience. The wine is massive, yet, balanced. Ripe, but not overripe, although there is a sensation of jam on top of all the dark red, peppery fruits. Thick enough to eat, the spicy kirsch, horsey barnyard, garrigue and wet earth really make an impression. Rich and endless on your palate, this is still young. Give it an hour or two of air, or wait another 6-8 years. This is a unique styling of Chateauneuf du Pape that is not repeated in other wines.

3,988 Views   Tasted
I was almost speechless from the first sniff and sip! Intense levels of earthy, smoky, black cherries, plum, garrigue, pepper and truffle. Palate coating richness and concentration of raw material that left you tasting layers of ripe and over ripe berries for close to 50 seconds. Still young, this is a legend in the making!

I was almost speechless from the first sniff and sip! Intense levels of earthy, smoky, black cherries, plum, garrigue, pepper and truffle. Palate coating richness and concentration of raw material that left you tasting layers of ripe and over ripe berries for close to 50 seconds. Still young, this is a legend in the making!

4,515 Views   Tasted
This is almost off the charts with its massive, intense levels of concentration! It's hard to fathom how Henri Bonneau managed to stuff so much fruit into a single bottle of wine. Kirsch liqueur, stone, black cherry, licorice, pepper and black raspberry aromatics, waves of intense, ripe, peppery fruit and a long, pure, sensation of cherry port in the finish. Still young, this is going to one of the Chateauneuf du Pape wines people dream about tasting when it his maturity. As for when that's going to happen, your guess is as good as mine. I'm waiting another few years before popping a bottle.

This is almost off the charts with its massive, intense levels of concentration! It's hard to fathom how Henri Bonneau managed to stuff so much fruit into a single bottle of wine. Kirsch liqueur, stone, black cherry, licorice, pepper and black raspberry aromatics, waves of intense, ripe, peppery fruit and a long, pure, sensation of cherry port in the finish. Still young, this is going to one of the Chateauneuf du Pape wines people dream about tasting when it his maturity. As for when that's going to happen, your guess is as good as mine. I'm waiting another few years before popping a bottle.

4,462 Views   Tasted
Thick, dense and concedntrated, it tasted like a magnum worth of wine was placed inside a 750. However, don’t let it’s size fool you. This is perfectly balanced, concentrated and intense.

Thick, dense and concedntrated, it tasted like a magnum worth of wine was placed inside a 750. However, don’t let it’s size fool you. This is perfectly balanced, concentrated and intense.

4,586 Views   Tasted
1998
95
Just loved this wine! Elegant in texture, the nose, with its perfect blend of earth, barnyard, cherries, licorice, flowers and garrigue really gets your engine going. Fresh, vibrant and earthy, this is drinking at peak.

Just loved this wine! Elegant in texture, the nose, with its perfect blend of earth, barnyard, cherries, licorice, flowers and garrigue really gets your engine going. Fresh, vibrant and earthy, this is drinking at peak.

3,737 Views   Tasted
Jammy black cherries, earth, fresh strawberries, fresh black pepper, spice and brown sugar notes open to a ready to drink, traditionally styled, concentrated wine from Henri Bonneau that ends with a long, kirsch filled finish. This seems to be fully mature at this point.

Jammy black cherries, earth, fresh strawberries, fresh black pepper, spice and brown sugar notes open to a ready to drink, traditionally styled, concentrated wine from Henri Bonneau that ends with a long, kirsch filled finish. This seems to be fully mature at this point.

3,848 Views   Tasted
Bright cherry and black raspberry with fresh pepper and market herbs in the nose. Good concentration and simlar in style of Celestins, but lacking the body and intensity.

Bright cherry and black raspberry with fresh pepper and market herbs in the nose. Good concentration and simlar in style of Celestins, but lacking the body and intensity.

3,320 Views   Tasted
1998
85
Possibly the most unique wine I’ve ever tasted. Never having seen this before, I did not know what to expect. The initial taste and smell popped my eyes out of my head and made me jump back in my chair! This is best described as fermented dinosaur blood. Huge, hulking and massive does not fully express what this wine is. I don't think I'd want to taste this often, but it’s an amazing experience.

Possibly the most unique wine I’ve ever tasted. Never having seen this before, I did not know what to expect. The initial taste and smell popped my eyes out of my head and made me jump back in my chair! This is best described as fermented dinosaur blood. Huge, hulking and massive does not fully express what this wine is. I don't think I'd want to taste this often, but it’s an amazing experience.

3,416 Views   Tasted
1995
95
At 20 years of age, this was the best showing yet. Rich, concentrated and packed with sweet, juicy, dark red fruits, meat, pepper and a touch of VA, (not enough to bother me, but it was there) the wine offers complexity, lushness and length. Popped and poured, this was great from the get go.

At 20 years of age, this was the best showing yet. Rich, concentrated and packed with sweet, juicy, dark red fruits, meat, pepper and a touch of VA, (not enough to bother me, but it was there) the wine offers complexity, lushness and length. Popped and poured, this was great from the get go.

2,945 Views   Tasted
Full bodied, beefy, spicy, masculine and perhaps a bit stern, there is ample spicy, sweet, peppery, fresh red berries, herbs and soil, along with abundant tannins. More interesting on the nose than the palate. At 20 years of age, this demands at least another 5 years in the bottle.

Full bodied, beefy, spicy, masculine and perhaps a bit stern, there is ample spicy, sweet, peppery, fresh red berries, herbs and soil, along with abundant tannins. More interesting on the nose than the palate. At 20 years of age, this demands at least another 5 years in the bottle.

2,573 Views   Tasted
Open and accessible, the medium bodied wine offers fresh, ripe cherries, pepper, kirsch, earth and black raspberries with a long, pure, soft, spicy, red berry filled finish. The tannins seem to have melted away. I was surprised by how fast this had developed. There is no reason to hold any longer.

Open and accessible, the medium bodied wine offers fresh, ripe cherries, pepper, kirsch, earth and black raspberries with a long, pure, soft, spicy, red berry filled finish. The tannins seem to have melted away. I was surprised by how fast this had developed. There is no reason to hold any longer.

3,233 Views   Tasted
This old school styled Chateauneuf is filled with sappy, cherry, spice, beef, pepper and strawberry jam notes. Still young, I'd give this structured, beefy, tannic Chateauneuf another 5 years before popping another bottle.

This old school styled Chateauneuf is filled with sappy, cherry, spice, beef, pepper and strawberry jam notes. Still young, I'd give this structured, beefy, tannic Chateauneuf another 5 years before popping another bottle.

3,247 Views   Tasted
1990
90
The wine showed a strong, almost overwhelming volatile acidity note on the nose that while you could also discover its unique meaty, earthy, herb, pepper, garrigue and wild red cherry nuances, this bottle was not nearly at the level of previous bottles. The wine had excellent provenance, so I found it worrisome that other bottles could also show this character as it continues aging.

The wine showed a strong, almost overwhelming volatile acidity note on the nose that while you could also discover its unique meaty, earthy, herb, pepper, garrigue and wild red cherry nuances, this bottle was not nearly at the level of previous bottles. The wine had excellent provenance, so I found it worrisome that other bottles could also show this character as it continues aging.

3,329 Views   Tasted
With a complex nose of black and red cherries, flowers, smoke, meat, garrigue and pepper, the wine is deep, concentrated, rich, long and still youthful.

With a complex nose of black and red cherries, flowers, smoke, meat, garrigue and pepper, the wine is deep, concentrated, rich, long and still youthful.

7,570 Views   Tasted
This is molten terroir of Chateauneuf du Pape! The compelling nose of raw meat, pepper, herbs, pre historic cherries and spice was accompanied by an almost overwhelming mouth feel. Huge, yet balanced, this complex wine had a fresh, strawberry, kirsch, spice filled finish that lasted over one minute!

This is molten terroir of Chateauneuf du Pape! The compelling nose of raw meat, pepper, herbs, pre historic cherries and spice was accompanied by an almost overwhelming mouth feel. Huge, yet balanced, this complex wine had a fresh, strawberry, kirsch, spice filled finish that lasted over one minute!

5,387 Views   Tasted
1989
97
Not a wine I see often, here you find an expression of rocks, stones, herbs, kirsch, spice and grilled meat. At almost 33 years of age, this is still showing incredible concentration and a wild elegant character.

Not a wine I see often, here you find an expression of rocks, stones, herbs, kirsch, spice and grilled meat. At almost 33 years of age, this is still showing incredible concentration and a wild elegant character.

3,721 Views   Tasted
Mr. Ed, so this is where you have been hiding. This wine, or at least this bottle shows a lot of barnyard notes. But that does not keep the floral, earthy, smoky, citrus, kirsch and pepper and garrigue from making an appearance. Concentrated, long, deep and intense, this is ready to drink.

Mr. Ed, so this is where you have been hiding. This wine, or at least this bottle shows a lot of barnyard notes. But that does not keep the floral, earthy, smoky, citrus, kirsch and pepper and garrigue from making an appearance. Concentrated, long, deep and intense, this is ready to drink.

3,548 Views   Tasted
WOW! Animalistic, wild and yet, silky, robust, fresh and sweet, there is beautiful sense of purity to the sweet, perfectly ripe red fruits and a lush, intense, rich, textural component to the wine that is frankly unequaled.

WOW! Animalistic, wild and yet, silky, robust, fresh and sweet, there is beautiful sense of purity to the sweet, perfectly ripe red fruits and a lush, intense, rich, textural component to the wine that is frankly unequaled.

3,743 Views   Tasted
Wow! The nose offers a knock out punch with the perfect combination of ripe and over, black and red cherries kirsch, garrigue, strawberry liqueur and earthy aromatics. Massive, intense and layered with sweet, ripe, spicy fruits, the wine builds in intensity with each sniff, swallow and sip.

Wow! The nose offers a knock out punch with the perfect combination of ripe and over, black and red cherries kirsch, garrigue, strawberry liqueur and earthy aromatics. Massive, intense and layered with sweet, ripe, spicy fruits, the wine builds in intensity with each sniff, swallow and sip.

4,409 Views   Tasted
Exploded like a rocket out of the glass. This wine was packed with herbs, pepper, kirsch and earth. Massive, dense and concentrated. Masculine in style and very tannic. This wine could use another 5-10 years

Exploded like a rocket out of the glass. This wine was packed with herbs, pepper, kirsch and earth. Massive, dense and concentrated. Masculine in style and very tannic. This wine could use another 5-10 years

3,236 Views   Tasted
1988
95
Dried, wild cherries, pepper, wet, earth and garrigue make sure you know, they are there. On the palate, the wine is concentrated, long, rich and combines wild, ripe, cherries and black raspberry, kirsch, pepper and herbs. Clearly, this is one of the longest, lived vintges of Celestins, as this is developed, but it should remain on the uphill climb for years.

Dried, wild cherries, pepper, wet, earth and garrigue make sure you know, they are there. On the palate, the wine is concentrated, long, rich and combines wild, ripe, cherries and black raspberry, kirsch, pepper and herbs. Clearly, this is one of the longest, lived vintges of Celestins, as this is developed, but it should remain on the uphill climb for years.

2,151 Views   Tasted
Continuing to come on strong, with secondary notes galore of barnyard, earth, garrigue and peppery kirsch. Full bodied, concentrated and long, this is a unique styling of Southern Rhone that needs to be tasted at least once or twice.

Continuing to come on strong, with secondary notes galore of barnyard, earth, garrigue and peppery kirsch. Full bodied, concentrated and long, this is a unique styling of Southern Rhone that needs to be tasted at least once or twice.

2,409 Views   Tasted
Having bought a case of this, I've been trying it over the years, waiting for it to fully come around. It has arrived. This distinctive wine takes a basket of fresh picked, extremely ripe cherries and spills it on a wet, sweaty horse before the fruit falls to the bottom of the stable and mixes with barnyard and garrigue scents. Powerful, concentrated and meaty, this is a very animalistic Chateauneuf du Pape with a long, deep, dark red berry finish.

Having bought a case of this, I've been trying it over the years, waiting for it to fully come around. It has arrived. This distinctive wine takes a basket of fresh picked, extremely ripe cherries and spills it on a wet, sweaty horse before the fruit falls to the bottom of the stable and mixes with barnyard and garrigue scents. Powerful, concentrated and meaty, this is a very animalistic Chateauneuf du Pape with a long, deep, dark red berry finish.

3,861 Views   Tasted
Pepper, barnyard, fennel, kirsch and earthy scents open to a powerful, concentrated, meaty, brawny, Chateauneuf du Pape. The rich, robust wine ends with sweet black cherry, black raspberry, spice, herb and pepper sensations.

Pepper, barnyard, fennel, kirsch and earthy scents open to a powerful, concentrated, meaty, brawny, Chateauneuf du Pape. The rich, robust wine ends with sweet black cherry, black raspberry, spice, herb and pepper sensations.

2,511 Views   Tasted
88 Bonneau Celestins opens with pepper, red and black roasted cherries, herbs, spice and earth. This is a powerful style of Chateauneuf du Pape with a lot of structure and concentration. This is not a graceful wine. It's powerful, masculine and concentrated. But it’s an interesting and unique style that is probably how the best Chateauneuf wines tasted in 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. 95 Pts

88 Bonneau Celestins opens with pepper, red and black roasted cherries, herbs, spice and earth. This is a powerful style of Chateauneuf du Pape with a lot of structure and concentration. This is not a graceful wine. It's powerful, masculine and concentrated. But it’s an interesting and unique style that is probably how the best Chateauneuf wines tasted in 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. 95 Pts

2,502 Views   Tasted
Tossing out scents of cherries, kirsch, raspberries, meat, spices and herbs. Brawny in texture and slightly rustic, it offered layers of fruit on the palate.

Tossing out scents of cherries, kirsch, raspberries, meat, spices and herbs. Brawny in texture and slightly rustic, it offered layers of fruit on the palate.

2,425 Views   Tasted
Beef blood, iron, Kirsch, herbs and earthy scents. Still tannic.Big, beefy, meaty and cConcentrated, structured and rustic. Needs time.

Beef blood, iron, Kirsch, herbs and earthy scents. Still tannic.Big, beefy, meaty and cConcentrated, structured and rustic. Needs time.

2,444 Views   Tasted
1986
94
86 Bonneau Celestins offered a unique nose of orange peel, pepper, kirsch, beef blood and grilled meat. Thick, sweet, peppery, ripe powerful, intense and ABVic, the wine ended with hints of orange, clay and spice. 94 Pts

86 Bonneau Celestins offered a unique nose of orange peel, pepper, kirsch, beef blood and grilled meat. Thick, sweet, peppery, ripe powerful, intense and ABVic, the wine ended with hints of orange, clay and spice. 94 Pts

2,275 Views   Tasted