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2018 Taylor Fladgate - Vintage Port HALF BOTTLE (375ml)
Taylor Fladgate
SKU 87912

2018 Taylor Fladgate - Vintage Port HALF BOTTLE (375ml)

$59.99 - $59.99
$59.99
$59.99 - $59.99
$59.99
Availability:
28 available

Taylor Fladgate is widely regarded as the archetypal Port house, founded in 1692 and among the oldest of the original Port firms still operating today. Devoted entirely to Port production, the house has long set the benchmark for Vintage Port, prized for wines of elegance, restrained power, and remarkable longevity. Its Vintage Ports are built from three estates that anchor the company's signature style: Quinta de Vargellas in the Douro Superior, and Quinta de Terra Feita and Quinta do Junco in the Cima Corgo's Pinhão Valley, each contributing a distinct dimension of character to the final blend.

The 2018 marked Taylor Fladgate's third consecutive Vintage Port declaration, following 2016 and 2017, an unusual run reflecting the exceptional quality of the growing seasons. The wine draws predominantly from Quinta de Vargellas, which forms the backbone of the blend, alongside fruit from Terra Feita and Junco. Grapes were hand harvested and foot-trodden in traditional lagares before fortification, then the wine aged roughly two years in wood before being bottled unfiltered, in keeping with the house's traditional methods.

The 2018 shows an impressive purple-black core rimmed with a narrow band of purple, opening to powerful woodland fruit, dense blackberry, and blackcurrant laced with cherry and mocha. Violet and rose petal aromas mingle with wild, minty herbal notes, while the palate reveals beautifully ripe tannins that build to a firm, wiry grip on the long finish. It pairs well with Stilton, roasted chestnuts, or a coffee-based dessert.

95 Points
"The 2018 Vintage Port is a field blend aged for approximately 18 months in very old and large wooden vats. It comes in with 100 grams of residual sugar. This is the third straight declaration (2016, 2017 and this 2018) of a classic Vintage Port for Taylor's. Of those three, this so far would be my least favorite, but it's close and time will tell. Aromatic and expressive, this adds a big bang for a finish that reminds you that it is, indeed, Taylor's. After opening it on the first day tasted, it tightened fast and showed the structure I like to see in serious Ports. It has that classic flavor profile as well and shows fine concentration. Even 48 hours later it had no problem showing off a little muscle, even though it drank decently at that point. The fruit is expressive, as noted, but it is still a bit closed just now. I am not sure this is a truly great Taylor's, but it is a very good one. In the Fladgate Partnership lineup this issue, it is probably the most complete wine. The Croft is the sexy steal with utterly delicious fruit, but Taylor's has better structure. The Fonseca has fine structure, but the fruit seems today to be a step behind the Taylor and the Croft in expressiveness. This seems likely to be the best of the Fladgate trio as the years and decades wear on, even though the Croft is the most interesting today. The price references a full bottle, although this was tasted from a half bottle."
—Mark Squires-Wine Advocate
Appellation: Vintage Port
Vintage: 2018
Variety: Port
Region: Porto
Country: Portugal
Bottle Size: 375ml
Producer: Taylor Fladgate
Taylor Fladgate

Taylor Fladgate is widely regarded as the archetypal Port house, founded in 1692 and among the oldest of the original Port firms still operating today. Devoted entirely to Port production, the house has long set the benchmark for Vintage Port, prized for wines of elegance, restrained power, and remarkable longevity. Its Vintage Ports are built from three estates that anchor the company's signature style: Quinta de Vargellas in the Douro Superior, and Quinta de Terra Feita and Quinta do Junco in the Cima Corgo's Pinhão Valley, each contributing a distinct dimension of character to the final blend.

The 2018 marked Taylor Fladgate's third consecutive Vintage Port declaration, following 2016 and 2017, an unusual run reflecting the exceptional quality of the growing seasons. The wine draws predominantly from Quinta de Vargellas, which forms the backbone of the blend, alongside fruit from Terra Feita and Junco. Grapes were hand harvested and foot-trodden in traditional lagares before fortification, then the wine aged roughly two years in wood before being bottled unfiltered, in keeping with the house's traditional methods.

The 2018 shows an impressive purple-black core rimmed with a narrow band of purple, opening to powerful woodland fruit, dense blackberry, and blackcurrant laced with cherry and mocha. Violet and rose petal aromas mingle with wild, minty herbal notes, while the palate reveals beautifully ripe tannins that build to a firm, wiry grip on the long finish. It pairs well with Stilton, roasted chestnuts, or a coffee-based dessert.

95 Points
"The 2018 Vintage Port is a field blend aged for approximately 18 months in very old and large wooden vats. It comes in with 100 grams of residual sugar. This is the third straight declaration (2016, 2017 and this 2018) of a classic Vintage Port for Taylor's. Of those three, this so far would be my least favorite, but it's close and time will tell. Aromatic and expressive, this adds a big bang for a finish that reminds you that it is, indeed, Taylor's. After opening it on the first day tasted, it tightened fast and showed the structure I like to see in serious Ports. It has that classic flavor profile as well and shows fine concentration. Even 48 hours later it had no problem showing off a little muscle, even though it drank decently at that point. The fruit is expressive, as noted, but it is still a bit closed just now. I am not sure this is a truly great Taylor's, but it is a very good one. In the Fladgate Partnership lineup this issue, it is probably the most complete wine. The Croft is the sexy steal with utterly delicious fruit, but Taylor's has better structure. The Fonseca has fine structure, but the fruit seems today to be a step behind the Taylor and the Croft in expressiveness. This seems likely to be the best of the Fladgate trio as the years and decades wear on, even though the Croft is the most interesting today. The price references a full bottle, although this was tasted from a half bottle."
—Mark Squires-Wine Advocate
Appellation: Vintage Port
Vintage: 2018
Variety: Port
Region: Porto
Country: Portugal
Bottle Size: 375ml
Producer: Taylor Fladgate