The 2016 Vacqueyras 1717 could be the best wine this historic producer has ever made. A portion of the blend will come from 100-year-old Grenache vines whose grapes were hand-destemmed and barrel-fermented. That sample was incredibly rich and decadent, loaded with warm raspberries and fudge. From another lot, the oak was notable, in the form of cinnamon toast, but it perfectly complemented the wine's full-bodied nature and ripe black cherries. The tannins are supple, yet these lots show crisper acids and longer finishes than the sample of the 2015.