WTN: Wines we love - Old Port (1968 T-F Single Harvest)

[David M. Bueker]

• 1968 Taylor (Fladgate) Very Old Single Harvest Port Limited Edition - Portugal, Douro, Porto (2/20/2025)
  A very generous pour from the host of our tasting, this was a fantastic way to cap off the evening. Predictably golden in color with just the barest hints of rusty red, the fireworks started the moment he opened the bottle. I was across the table and could almost immediately smell the fig/nut/spice melange before anything had been poured. Just a small pour for me, as I had to head home, but just a sip or two contained more flavor than a full glass of many wines. Completely in the developed range, there were the predictable and previously smelled fig and nutty flavors, along with nutmeg, cinnamon, and a lip-smacking butterscotch note on the finish. Moderately sweet, and bursting with acidity, the wine had a fresh mouthfeel despite its age. Quite the treat. Looking forward to the bottle of the 1966 that I have in the cellar.

I'm very fond of Taylor Fladgate's declared vintage Port. I'll be opening a bottle of the 1955 this June in celebration of my 70th birthday. But I've never had one of their Colheita or Very Old vintage bottlings. I assume that the Very Old wines are sort of a vintage tawny?

-Paul W.

I've also been a Taylor's fan for a very long time. I've never seen that 1968, but I do have one bottle of a single quinta 1967 Quinta de Vargellas. Thanks for the reminder, wines like this deserve to be shared with others that appreciate them - I'll work this one into a dinner in the next year. At that age you can even serve them as a starter wine with nuts and dried sliced apricots or figs.

I look forward to your note on the 1966 when you get around to opening it. Sadly, I have drunk up almost all of y 1970s but do have a fair bit of 77 and a few bottles of Fonseca 63 left.

[David M. Bueker]

I'm very fond of Taylor Fladgate's declared vintage Port. I'll be opening a bottle of the 1955 this June in celebration of my 70th birthday. But I've never had one of their Colheita or Very Old vintage bottlings. I assume that the Very Old wines are sort of a vintage tawny?

-Paul W.

It’s really a colheita