Taylor's : Very Very Old White Port 80 Year Old

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for Taylor's Very Very Old White Port 80 Year Old

Tasting Notes

Nose
Remarkably deep, the aromatic bouquet unfolds in a captivating succession of scents. It reveals notes of dried apricot, orange zest and almond biscotti, harmoniously blended with delicate floral touches of jasmine, wild lavender and orange blossom.

Palate
The palate stands out for its fruity purity and great elegance, underpinned by a vibrant acidity. It offers indulgent flavours of honey, almond and toasted hazelnut, joined by tonka bean, blood orange and saffron-tinged spice. A subtle saline thread rounds off the tasting experience, leading into a long, intense finish of absolute finesse.

Food and Wine Pairing
This complex cuvée is a wonderful match for rich savoury dishes such as pan-seared foie gras with citrus, terrines with dried fruits, or smoked fish served with a lemon cream. On the sweet side, it pairs beautifully with characterful blue-veined cheeses as well as refined desserts showcasing citrus or dried fruits, such as an orange tart or a frozen nougat.

Serving and Cellaring
To fully appreciate the Very Very Old White Port 80 Year Old, it is best served at a temperature of between 10 and 12°C in a tulip-shaped glass. Around fifteen minutes of aeration in the glass is enough to release its aromas; decanting is not necessary. Thanks to its exceptionally long ageing, this port is perfectly stable and can be kept for many years under good conditions, although it is already ready to drink, offering a true journey through time.

Other Characteristics
This exceptional spirit stands out for its high sugar concentration, perfectly balanced by a lovely liveliness. It is presented in a sumptuous bespoke decanter designed in collaboration with Vista Alegre, nestled within an elegant, high-end box crafted from responsible materials.

An Absolutely Rare White Port from Taylor's

The Estate
Founded in 1692, Taylor's is one of the oldest houses in the Douro region and the only British-founded house to have remained family-owned and independent. Now led by Adrian Bridge within The Fladgate Partnership group, this iconic brand is celebrated for its pioneering spirit and exceptional expertise. Based in Vila Nova de Gaia, the estate draws on historic properties to craft ports of remarkable quality, blending tradition and innovation while establishing itself as an essential reference in the category.

The Vineyard
The grapes come from the spectacular Douro valley, in the Duriense region, a mountainous terroir with poor schist soils and a hot, dry continental climate. The House draws on historic Class A estates such as Vargellas, Terra Feita and Junco to craft this port. A true pioneer, it has established an award-winning sustainable viticulture model based on narrow terraces sloped at 3° to limit erosion, optimise water use and encourage biodiversity, all without the use of herbicides.

The Blend
This cuvée is the result of a blend of unique and extremely rare lots of very old white wines, with an average age of over 80 years. Some of these exceptional reserves date back as far as 1896. Drawn from stocks that predate the major modifications to the Douro river, this blend is a true time capsule, one that can never be recreated once the casks are exhausted.

Winemaking and Ageing
The Very Very Old White Port 80 Year Old is crafted through prolonged oxidative ageing spanning several decades. Ageing takes place in old oak casks within the historic cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia. Under the guidance of cellar master David Guimaraens, the lots are meticulously selected and blended to achieve a perfect balance of concentration, aromatic richness and freshness.

Grape Varieties
The blend showcases local white grape varieties, including malvasia fina, chosen for their ability to concentrate aromas and retain a lovely acidity, essential for an ageing process spanning several decades.