Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
The profound 1995 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve des Celestins exhibits a dense saturated plum/garnet color as well as an intense nose of roasted meats, beef blood, plum, cherry, and blackberry liqueur, truffle, and spice box. It is enormously constituted, with massive quantities of fruit, extract, and glycerin. The alcohol must be at least 15%, but it is beautifully integrated and largely hidden by the wine's wealth of fruit and concentration. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2030. Total production at Bonneau is about 1,500 cases in a good year, but thanks to the insistence of Bonneau's American importer, Alain Junguenet, our country is getting several hundred cases. This is the quintessential artisinal winery, and Henri Bonneau is one of the planet's greatest and most distinctive winemakers.
Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
Although the 1995 remains tight and closed, it reveals classic Bonneau characteristics of roasted herbs, beef blood, cherries, cassis, licorice, and earth. These wines often taste as if someone took one of the old Grenache vines, threw it in a Cuisinart, liquified it, added a bit of brandy, and then bottled it. This is classic Chateauneuf du Pape, the likes of which are increasingly difficult to find.
Stephen Tanzer's IWC
Medium red. Highly aromatic nose combines roasted red fruits, leather, lead pencil and minerals; distinctly port-like surmaturite Like a liqueur in the mouth, but with intense spiciness giving the wine an assertive personality and terrific lift. A wine with noble rusticity, finishing with the rather strong tannins of this vintage.
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