2013 Henri Bonneau - Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Marie Beurrier
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Tasting notes
The 2013 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Marie Beurrier is still resting in barrel and will be the only release in the vintage. This was a cooler, difficult vintage, yet it offers a classic, nicely concentrated style as well as plenty of pepper, saddle leather, garrigue and black cherry fruit. Like the 2014, it has a light, graceful, Burgundian texture, with bright acidity. This iconic estate is no doubt in a transitional phase following the loss of Henri Bonneau in 2016. The young Marcel Bonneau is now at the helm and is receiving help from both Daniel Combin on the business side and Régis Charmasson in the vineyards and cave. The 2016 will be Marcel’s first vintage on his own, and the barrel samples are certainly promising.
Critic scores
The Wine Advocate
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Apparently, there's no Les Celestins in 2013, which was a challenging vintage in the Southern Rhône. That said, the barrel we tasted of the 2013 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Marie Beurrier was a bit light but elegant and silky in texture, with pomegranate-like red fruit and gentle spice.
Tasted out of tank, I found the 2013 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Marie Beurrier (or what I think will be this cuvée anyways) to be austere and firm, with moderate amounts of pepper, earthy herbs and black cherry fruit in its chewy, yet mid-weight style.
Brilliant ruby-red. High-pitched red berry and floral scents show very good clarity and hints of garrigue and white pepper. Silky and sweet on the palate, offering fresh raspberry and cherry flavors that open up nicely on the back half. Closes sappy and very long, with resonating spiciness and smooth tannins.
About the producer
This very old-school property makes the most unique Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The wines are fantastically complex and Boneauu made it as it would have been produced 100 years ago in the commune, using methods that familiar to any of the 11 generations of vignerons in his family who preceded him.