Taylor's : Vintage Port 2018

Very attractive dried fruit with hints of stems and fresh herbs. Violets and dark berries, too. Full-bodied with a dense core of fruit and intense, chewy tannins. Yet there’s polish and refinement to the texture. Relatively dry and precise on the finish. Reminds me of 1980, but with much better polish to it. Wait until at least 2027 to take a look.

The 2018 Taylor’s Vintage Port comes predominantly from two vineyards: Quinta de Vargellas and Quinta de Terra Feita. It has a classy, aristocratic bouquet, a signature note apropos Taylor’s Vintage: dense black fruit with touches of melted tar, cloves and white pepper. This just builds and builds in the glass. The palate is very harmonious with fine tannins, perfect acidity and very pure with a gentle, almost caressing second half. White pepper interlaces the black fruit with a very precise finish. Pure class.