Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhône, Rhône, France
Tasted blind. This is an elegant expression from Henri Bonneau, whom I luckily once met when he was still alive. The combination of a fungus contaminated wine cellar, old barrels looking like they are about to collapse and wines of extraordinary quality remain a mystery to me to this date. The 1995 Réserve des Célestins shines with wafts of dried Provence herbs such as garrigue, dried strawberry, cranberry, red plum along with an earthy undertone and a pinch of iodine. It doesn't reach the same heights as 1989, 1990 or 1998, but is still full-bodied, extremely smooth on the palate and has well integrated alcohol. The long finish confirms a wine of outstanding quality, which can easily hold for another 10 years. Drink now until 2032.
Tasted blind. This is an elegant expression from Henri Bonneau, whom I luckily once met when he was still alive. The combination of a fungus contaminated wine cellar, old barrels looking like they are about to collapse and wines of extraordinary quality remain a mystery to me to this date. The 1995 Réserve des Célestins shines with wafts of dried Provence herbs such as garrigue, dried strawberry, cranberry, red plum along with an earthy undertone and a pinch of iodine. It doesn't reach the same heights as 1989, 1990 or 1998, but is still full-bodied, extremely smooth on the palate and has well integrated alcohol. The long finish confirms a wine of outstanding quality, which can easily hold for another 10 years. Drink now until 2032.
Dec 20th, 2022
