Tannic but ripe, and with plenty of substance to carry it, the 2019 Chateauneuf du Pape Terre d'Ancetres is a blend of 85% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre that matured in a mix of demi-muids and tank. Scents of purple raspberries and vanilla appear on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, creamy-supple on the mid-palate, then long and silky on the finish.

Without any of the hard tannins I found in the 2015, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape Terre d'Ancetres is a beauty. A concrete-aged blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre, it's full-bodied, creamy and plush in texture, with loads of cherry fruit and hints of cinnamon, clove and bay leaf on the finish. It should drink well for over a decade.

Because of the tough tannins in the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Terre d'Ancetres, I have some reservations about it, but it should be a solid drink given enough time. The nose shows lovely aromas of ripe cherries and garrigue, so there is some promise here, but the palate is locked up tight for the moment.