Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Domaine Henri Bonneau 1994

This note is based on my tastings of several barrels of the wine. Tasting through the 1994 Chateauneuf du Pape cuvees indicates there will be both a Marie Beurrier and Reserve des Celestins produced in this vintage. This wine continues to grow in stature, and, like many wines in these cellars, put on weight and fruit. It will probably merit a score in the low nineties when released, especially the top cuvees, which will go into the Reserve des Celestins. Henri Bonneau makes no bones about the fact that he prefers 1994 as a vintage to 1995 and 1996, but he is also the first to admit that it is too early to judge any of his wines. The 1994 cuvees all exhibit high tannins, as well as formidable concentrations of kirsch-like fruit, amazing power, high alcohol, and mouthcoating levels of extract. This powerful, rich Chateauneuf du Pape will come close to rivaling Bonneau's superb 1988. The Reserve des Celestins cuvees appear capable of 20-30 years of evolution, and the Marie Beurrier cuvees, 10-20 years.