Taylor's Vintage

For many, Taylor's is the archetypal Port house and its wines the quintessential Ports. Established over three centuries ago in 1692, Taylor's is one of the oldest of the founding Port houses. It is dedicated entirely to the production of Port wine and in particular to its finest styles.

Based in Oporto and the Douro Valley the company is closely involved in all stages of the production of its Ports, from the planting of the vineyard and the cultivation of the grapes to the making, ageing, blending and bottling of the wines. The family's commitment to the future of Port is demonstrated in its single minded dedication to the highest standards in Port production, its continued investment in all aspects of the firm's operations and its determination to preserve the unique environment of the Douro Valley through the promotion of Sustainable and responsible viticulture.

Taylor's Vintage Port is one of the world's great iconic wines. Made only in the very finest years, known as declared' vintages, Vintage Ports are blended from the best produce of the firm's own estates of Quinta de Vargellas, Quinta de Terra Feita and more recently, Quinta do Junco. After each harvest, the tasting panel selects the finest Port wines from the three properties and these are then left to age for two winters in oak vats. In their second Spring, they are tasted again. If they are judged to be of exceptional quality, the Port wines of the three estates are blended together, Vargellas bringing structure, elegance and complexity to the wine and Terra Feita and Junco body, depth and powerful, concentrated fruit. At this stage it must be decided whether a Vintage Port is to be declared'. For a declaration to be made, the Vintage Port blend must be of outstanding quality: austere in its youth, with tremendous depth of flavour and massive structure, capable of evolving over years, or decades into that quintessence of great Port, a mature Taylor's Vintage.

Historically Taylor's has only declared about three Vintage years per decade.

The Vintage of 1985 was preceded by an exceptionally cold, wet Winter. Bud burst took place early in April and flowering around the end of May. The Summer was hot throughout and the harvest started on 26th September. By the close of harvest it was apparent that the year had produced Port wines of exceptional quality.

Tasting Notes

Intense ruby colour, now just beginning to open out. Rich, complete, multidimensional nose, displaying elements of both youth and maturity. Aromas of ripe berry fruit, liquorice and butterscotch with scented violet notes. The palate is now quite smooth and round with velvety well integrated tannins and masses of rich figgy fruit flavour. Warm mellow finish full of rich jammy fruit.

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