2003 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port
SKU #500641
Taylor’s owns two great vineyards in the Douro, Quinta de Vargellas and Quinta de Terra Feita. Both are categorised grade A the highest possible rating. In years when Taylor’s produces a classic vintage, wines from these two estates are blended together. As they are some 20 miles apart, and subject to very different microclimates, they combine to produce a powerful, long lived and complex vintage port. Inky purple black with narrow magenta rim. Classic Taylor nose, with exotic scents of violet and gumcistus set against an impenetrable background of intense dark berry fruit. Stylish and racy palate, displaying a tight fabric of sinewy tannins and packed with concentrated grapey flavors which intensify through the seemingly endless finish. Like many other great Taylor vintage this wine is an archetype of restrained power, its elegance and breeding concealing massive inner strength and stamina.
ROBERT PARKER RATING: 98
ROBERT PARKER REVIEW: The 2003 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port improved each time I raised it to my nose or mouth. It displays a black color and a salty, graphite-laced nose packed with sweet black fruits that is reminiscent of a stellar vintage of Chateau Latour. With air, notes of molasses, burnt sugar, spices, and jammy plums emanate from the glass. Full-bodied, hugely dense, immensely rich, as well as thick, this behemoth is also amazingly balanced and harmonious. Raisins, molasses, licorice, black cherries, plums, and a distinctive note of violets are found in its complex, seamless character. Its interminable finish reveals additional notes of chocolate, kirsch, red as well as black currants, dark cherries, and rose blossoms. Armed with exceptional power, depth, and purity, this Taylor will proudly stand shoulder to shoulder with the finest ever crafted by the Fladgate Partnership. Projected maturity: 2035 – 2060
Taylor’s finest and rarest wine, the very pinnacle of port. Only in a year when everything is perfect does Taylor's ‘declare’ a vintage. With the company’s reputation at stake, ‘declaring’ is not taken lightly, since it invites a knowledgeable and worldwide audience to judge whether perfection has indeed been achieved.
The ultimate collector’s wines, Taylor's Vintage Ports will last for fifty years or more. They are renowned for their massive structure, concentration of flavor and distinctive ‘masculine’ style. Bottled after two years in wood, they continue to mature for decades in the cellar, slowly attaining the sublime elegance and power which are the hallmarks of the Taylor's style.
Taylor's Vintage Ports are classically served after lunch or dinner, in a relaxed and unhurried atmosphere when their powerful aromas and rich flavors can be fully appreciated and discussed. They can be enjoyed without food, but cheese is a fine accompaniment, as are nuts or dried fruits.
Bottle Size | 750ml |
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Vintage | 2003 |
Country | Portugal |
Region | Port |
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