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96 RP. "For the first time, Henri Bonneau produced a Cuvée Spéciale in 1990. The vintage was so extraordinary he let one parcel of Grenache vines hang until the sugars were over 30% . . . . It took three years to ferment on its wild yeasts and, after aging in cask and foudre for more than four years, it was bottled without filtration. To say this wine will last for 25-30 years is an understatement. When I asked Bonneau what he would serve with such a powerful, rich wine, he spent the next 20 minutes fantasizing about possible matchups. If readers want to taste the quintessential Henri Bonneau style, as well as how exciting (and exaggerated) Grenache can be when made from such a degree of ripeness and tiny yields, this wine should not be missed. Although too massive to drink now, it should become surprisingly civilized with aging. Sit on it . . . and drink it over the following two decades. For Rhône wine enthusiasts, it will likely become a collector's item worth its weight in gold." Wine Advocate, Rhone Book, Dec 1996 |