France · Rhône Valley

Henri Bonneau

Henri Bonneau was one of Châteauneuf-du-Pape's most singular and beloved figures — a grower-producer of deeply traditional persuasion who farmed approximately 8 hectares of ancient Grenache vines, some dating to the nineteenth century, and made wines of extraordinary concentration and individuality. The Réserve des Célestins is the pinnacle: a selection of the oldest, most concentrated barrels, aged in an eclectic mix of old oak and glass demijohns in Bonneau's famously chaotic cave beneath his Châteauneuf-du-Pape village home. Marie Beurrier is the second wine, also released in varying quantities and vintages. Bonneau released his wines only when he judged them ready, sometimes holding back vintages for a decade or more — the 1986 Réserve des Célestins, for instance, was not released until the mid-1990s. He died in 2016; the domaine continues under his family. At auction, the estate averages $395 per bottle across 231 lots — a figure that understates the premium commanded by the Réserve des Célestins from top years. Peaks reaching $2,629 reflect trophy bottles of the Réserve from stellar Châteauneuf vintages including 2007, 2010, and 2016. The wines are among the most collectible addresses in the southern Rhône.