Henri Bonneau Chateauneuf-Du-Pape Réserve Des Célestins 1998

Henri Bonneau’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins 1998 is one of the great cult wines of the Rhône: a rare, cellar-aged expression of Grenache from a producer revered for patience, precision, and instinct. Released only when Henri Bonneau felt the wine had reached the right balance, it combines immense concentration with remarkable elegance and historical importance in the appellation.

Tasting Notes
Deep ruby in the glass, this vintage shows the classic depth and seriousness that made Bonneau legendary. The nose is intensely layered with kirsch, blackcurrant, roasted herbs, beef blood, and crushed stones, unfolding with time in the glass into darker, earthier nuances. On the palate, it is full-bodied and powerful, yet finely composed, with a structured mid-palate, ripe tannins, and a long, resonant finish that keeps calling you back. Though already expressive, this is a wine with exceptional aging potential and the ability to evolve beautifully over many more years in bottle.

Production
The estate’s vineyards cover just 6 hectares in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with Grenache making up around 90% of the blend, supported by small amounts of Mourvèdre, Counoise, and Vaccarèse. Bonneau harvested late, always waiting for full phenolic ripeness, and kept yields extremely low at around 10–12 hl/ha. Fermentation took place in cement tanks, after which the wine was transferred to very old Burgundy barrels and left to mature for many years—often far longer than is typical in the region. Only the best barrels were selected for Réserve des Célestins, and the final blend was decided only when Bonneau believed the wine had achieved perfect harmony.

Food & Serving
This is a wine for slow-roasted lamb, game meats, venison, duck confit, or rich dishes with herbs and deep savory character. It also pairs beautifully with mature hard cheeses and Provençal dishes. Serve at around 16–18°C, and decant gently in advance if the bottle is young or showing considerable reduction; for an older bottle, a brief decant is usually enough.

Producer
Henri Bonneau (1938–2016) was a 12th-generation winemaker and one of the most iconic names in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. He began making wine in 1956 and built a global reputation for deeply traditional, long-lived wines crafted with minimal intervention and extraordinary intuition. Today, his son Marcel continues the family legacy, and Bonneau’s wines remain among the rarest and most sought-after in the Rhône and beyond.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.