Henri Bonneau has passed

[Hank_Champagne]

@William Kelley

Hank:

The last time I tasted with him, Henri opined that the 1989 Celestins was the greatest wine he ever made. I see no reason to argue with that. I expect that the 89-90 comparison with Celestins will ultimately play out the way the 89-90 Rayas comparison has already played out, and that Henri will be vindicated.

Happily, 1989 is my birth year!

Best,
William

William,

That’s interesting, and not surprising. The 89 vintage really seems to be coming on these last few years, and the Celistins has a ton of material. 89-90 Rayas has eluded me so far, but hopefully I can rectify that soon!

[Mark_Golodetz]

@Gerhard P.

@William Kelley

Hank:

The last time I tasted with him, Henri opined that the 1989 Celestins was the greatest wine he ever made. I see no reason to argue with that. I expect that the 89-90 comparison with Celestins will ultimately play out the way the 89-90 Rayas comparison has already played out, and that Henri will be vindicated.

Happily, 1989 is my birth year!

Best,
William

I´m sure late Jacques and (now) late Henri will continue discussion about their 1989 and 1990 resp. in heaven for a while - I hope they have still some stock left

My vision of heaven includes having a few glasses of said wines while discussing them. Comparing great wines with an empty glass sounds more like the other place.

[Gerhard_P]

@Mark Golodetz

My vision of heaven includes having a few glasses of said wines while discussing them. Comparing great wines with an empty glass sounds more like the other place.

True!

BTW: I would warn everybody to purchase Rayas-vintages before 1996 without ensured proveniance … the corks are without any vintage brand and the triangular vintage label is easily exchangable … you might pay a small fortune for a (believed) 1989/90 - might be disapointed when tasting … and never know what you´ve actually drunk.

[YLee]

@Hank Champagne

@DavidZ

I thought there was a succession in place to his son?

There may be, I really wasn’t sure. I hope there is!

He has a son, Marcel I think, but many people I spoke with did not think he is capable of doing anything on his own …
I once overheard somebody mentioning Jerome Bressy (Gourt de Mautens) should take over …

GOD help - NO!

Why do you feel J. Bressy shouldnt have taken over?

[Gerhard_P]

@Hank Champagne

There may be, I really wasn’t sure. I hope there is!

He has a son, Marcel I think, but many people I spoke with did not think he is capable of doing anything on his own …
I once overheard somebody mentioning Jerome Bressy (Gourt de Mautens) should take over …

GOD help - NO!

Why do you feel J. Bressy shouldnt have taken over?

The style of Gourt de Mautens (Rastau) is quite different from Henri Bonneau … a bit “forced” and over-exctracted, lacking elegance and natural flow …(imho) …

But that´s not relevant anymore since it is known that Marcel Bonneau is helped by Daniel Combin, the former owner of the vinotheque Ballon Rouge - he marketed Bonneau´s wines from app. 1995 onwards - and still does, but now not via Ballon Rouge but via his own company.

The last released vintage is 2014 - 2015, the last vintage vinified by Henri, is still not in the market (and I don´t know if already in bottle).
2016 was made without Henri … we´ll see …

[Mel_Hill]

Just got the "13/14’ NV Henri Bonneau Vin de Table du Vaucluse Les Rouliers
wish I could buy the higher level wines but these are pretty tasty.