menu
Member Sign In
  • IWFS Homepage
  • Blog Home
  • Forums Home
  • Global Forum
  • Contact Us
Close
  • IWFS Homepage
  • Blog Home
  • Forums Home
  • Global Forum
  • Contact Us
    Member Sign In
  • Blog Home
  • Forum Home
  • Global Forum
FOLOW US

Recent Posts

  • SHAW + SMITH ARE EXPRESSING ADELAIDE HILLS IN AUSTRALIA WITH VIBRANT MODERN CLASSIC WINES
  • Ask Sid: What are smudge pots?
  • CHATEAU PAPE CLEMENT VINTAGES BY BERNARD MAGREZ SHOW MUCH IMPROVED PESSAC-LEOGNAN QUALITY
  • Ask Sid: Which wine did golfer Rory McIlroy drink to celebrate his 2025 Masters win?
  • SEVEN SAN FRANCISCO RESTAURANTS WORTH TRYING

Archives

  • June 2025
  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Taylor Fladgate Tawny Port Extravaganza

November 11th, 2019 by Sid Cross

Milena & Jim Robertson are the longtime driving forces of the successful Vancouver Branch of The International Wine & Food Society. They are also enthusiastic and knowledgeable collectors of port wines. Again last week they generously invited guests to their home this time for a tawny port masterclass. The discussion was lively and ably focused by the participation of Jorge Ramos Export Director of the Fladgate partnership. We started with an fresh aperitif of Vertice quality bubbles from Portugal folowed by the paler 30 year & deeper red complex 40 year Taylor tawny ports. The main flight was a vertical of the six years released so far of Single Harvest Port from 1964 to 1969 inclusive – a first that even Jorge had not experienced before. Your scribe having tasted these previously after their annual individual release dates approached this vertical tasting expecting them all to be quite similiar. Sure they were all delicious and 50+ years old. However they were also all quite distinct as the time spent in bottle plus particularly the vintage conditions of the year played a big factor in their lasting impression here:

1964: Very pale colour, drier, less deep fruit with a rather dull flat nose lacking body but flavourful on the palate.

1965: Even slightly more pale on the rim but open with a stronger slightly green note aroma but a better overall impression than expected.

1966: Second darkest deep colour with attractive coffee, smoky toffee caramel bouquet notes and impressive balanced body weight.

1967: Amber aging look has complex orange rind, passion fruit and spices bouquet best of the flight but leaner less harmony on the taste.

1968: Stylish young with a larger production and more typically tawny of dried fruits with a touch of “paper” on the nose.

1969: Darkest most red looking with deep intense younger fresher fruit statement from only about 1/3 the production of 1968.
Excellent nose on the 1967 but leaner than 1966 that won the day. Got us thinking about 1966 as being the best vintage port year of these six releases (1963 also a great vintage) and it showed in the tawny results too. Next release will be an even smaller production of the 1970 tawny at 50 years of age with anticipation and big expectations for it because 1970 was also a very outstanding port year.

Another port house Krohn founded by 2 Norwegians in 1865 known for their older cask aged ports was acquired by The Fladgate Partnership in 2013. We tasted their 1968 Colheita and young still fresh 1965 Vintage. Fun to compare that lovely 50 year old one with the three times older amazing 150+ year old treasure from their two casks stock released as Taylor 1863 Single Harvest Port. What a wine! Brought back memories of that other gem of Scion limited edition as another pre-Phylloxera beauty. This extra time in wood certainly concentrated both the colour and the body (as happens with old vintage Madeira too) due to 3-4% evaporation annually. So intense with almost the mellow texture similar to a Tokaji Essencia. Heavenly ginger, spice, butterscotch and exotic flavours lifted by outstanding acid balance. Most impressive indeed!

Keen vintage port aficionados are being enticed as well over to the tawny port side based on these unbelievable precious rareties. A salute to the Robertsons, The Fladgate Partnership and all around for unique tawny port.


center


You might also like:

November 11th, 2019 by Sid Cross
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Leave a Reply

Click here to cancel reply.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

The object of the Society is to bring together and serve all who believe that a right understanding of good food and wine is an essential part of personal contentment and health and that an intelligent approach to the pleasures and problems of the table offers far greater rewards than the mere satisfaction of appetite.
Andre Simon Wine & Food Society Founder (1933)
© 2025 The International Wine & Food Society (IW&FS) IW&FS
Credits | Privacy | Accessibility