2023 Taylor’s Sentinels Vintage Port 2 x 0.75L 2 Bottles Port Wine WINEMAKER: David Guimaraens. WINE VARIETIES: Traditional from Douro Region. TASTING NOTES Deep intense purple black core with a fine violet rim. The nose is built on a sturdy foundation of luscious, rich blackcurrant, blackberry and cherry aromas, intertwined with damsons and apricot. Notes of gum cistus and mint dance on the nose giving vibrancy and freshness. Extraordinary quality of ripe fruit, mouth-filling tannins and sumptuous blackberry with a whisp of dark chocolate. A pleasant touch of cedar, a hint of licorice and a silky long finish. This wine displays the hedonistic, generous quality of Taylor’s Pinhão Valley estates. HARVEST 2023 was welcomingly wet following a very dry cycle in previous years. 2022 was one of the direst years in recent history with only 354 mm’s of rain recorded in the growing season. In the winter of 2023, we had 484 mm’s of rain which was fundamental in replenishing our much needed ground reserves. Budburst started on the 18th March, three days later than our 21 year average which is the 15th March. The month was followed by a very hot, dry April that very much characterized the beginning of our season. The growth of the vines flourished with the warmth of the hot spring and we saw the season two weeks ahead of the usual. Flowering occurred on the 1st May in all the lower altitude vineyards of the Douro. Following the wet winter and the warm spring we had a vital rejuvenation of the vineyards following the very hot and dry 2022 season. We had a wet period between the 22nd May and 10th June where we had 96mm’s of rain in Pinhão with a lot of threat of mildew which kept the team on its toes in taking care of the vineyards. During this period, we had 13 days of yellow warnings for hail storms, which did occur in different parts of the region, but fortunately these were localized to a few small areas. However challenging the outbreak of mildew was, the rainfall was very welcome to maintain the water reserves. Veraison was registered in Pinhão on the 7th July which was 4 days later than in 2017 which was an equally advanced season. July itself had a mean temperature of 24.5c which is considered to be average. But, contrary to the usual, this year August was extremely hot where we had an average temperature of 26.2c which was particularly felt towards the end of August, when on the 21st and 22nd we recorded two days above 45c, which had a tremendous impact across the vineyards. In the lower lying vineyards, there was a lot of sunburn, but in the less exposed medium altitude vineyards this heat was very welcoming for the advance of the ripening of the grapes. Picking in the region started in the middle of August with white grapes, but for our red grapes we waited until the 4th of September, as on the 3rd September we had 13mm of rainfall in Pinhão that gave a last touch to the final ripening of the grapes, which led to grapes being picked under good conditions. However, another factor that marked this harvest was a second period of rain on the 10th September where in Pinhão 26mm fell, with quite a lot of intensity. This created a pause in the harvest but then the weather cleared up and gave way to another week of good quality grapes coming in. That was until we had the third incident of rain when on the 16th September, 60mm of rain fell which really dictated the change of the harvest and from that point forward it then became a race against time to bring our remaining grapes into our wineries and close out the vintage. SERVING Walnuts, blue veined and other richly flavoured cheeses are excellent accompaniments to Vintage Port; so too are dried fruits such as apricots or figs. Alternatively, simply savour the rich and complex flavours of the wine on their own in a generously proportioned glass with good company. Serve at 16ºC to 18ºC. Vintage Port is best drunk one to two days after opening. HISTORY For many, Taylor’s is the archetypal Port house and its wines the quintessential Ports. Established over three centuries ago in 1692, Taylor’s is one of the oldest of the founding Port houses. It is dedicated entirely to the production of Port wine and in particular to its finest styles. Above all, Taylor’s is regarded as the benchmark for Vintage Port. Noted for their elegance and poise as well as for their restrained power and longevity, Taylor’s Vintage Ports are blended from the finest wines of the firm’s own quintas or estates, Vargellas, Terra Feita and Junco. These three iconic properties, each occupying a distinct geographic location and with their own unique character, are the cornerstone of the company’s success and the main source of its unique and inimitable house style. Taylor’s is also respected as a producer of wood aged ports and holds one of the largest reserves of rare cask aged wines from which its distinguished aged tawny Ports are drawn. The house is also known as the originator of Late Bottled Vintage, a style which the firm pioneered and of which it remains the leading producer. Above all, Taylor’s is an independent company in which some family members play a leading role in all areas of the firm’s activity. The firm’s long and unbroken family tradition has provided continuity and clarity of purpose, essential attributes of any great wine house. It has also allowed the skills and knowledge required to produce the finest ports to be constantly refined and added to in the light of experience as they are passed down from one generation to the next. Based in Oporto and the Douro Valley the company is closely involved in all stages of the production of its Ports, from the planting of the vineyard and the cultivation of the grapes to the making, ageing, blending and bottling of the wines. The family’s commitment to the future of Port is demonstrated in its single minded dedication to the highest standards in Port production, its continued investment in all aspects of the firm’s operations and its determination to preserve the unique environment of the Douro Valley through the promotion of sustainable and responsible viticulture. PLEASE NOTE: This is a recurring auction. The seal number(s) you see on the photos might differ from the one(s) on your bottle(s).