2020 Taylor’s Late Bottled Vintage Port 6 x 0.75L Port Wine WINEMAKER: David Guimaraens. AWARDS/RECOMMENDATIONS 93 Points, James Suckling (2019 Vintage) 92 Points, Wine Spectator (2018 Vintage) 92 Points, Decanter World Wine Awards (2018 Vintage) 16.5 Points, Vinum Magazine (2018 Vintage) 90 Points, Tom Cannavan (2018 Vintage) 92 Points, Revista Adega (2017 Vintage) 16 Points, Jancis Robinson (2017 Vintage) 17 Points, Vinho Grandes Escolhas (2017 Vintage) 91 Points, Wine Enthusiast (2016 Vintage) 90 Points, International Wine Challenge (2016 Vintage) WINE VARIETIES: Traditional from Douro Region. VINIFICATION Taylor’s were pioneers of the LBV category, developed to satisfy the demand for a high quality ready-to-drink alternative to Vintage Port for everyday consumption. Unlike Vintage Port, which is bottled after only two years in wood and ages in bottle, LBV is bottled after four to six years and is ready to drink when bottled. Taylor’s continues to lead the LBV category of Port worldwide, in spite of the fact that many other shippers now also produce an LBV. The wines used to blend Taylor’s LBV were drawn from a reserve of some of the best full bodied red Ports, produced at the 2019 harvest, from grapes grown on Taylor’s own vineyards and on other top properties in the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior areas. TASTING NOTES Deep purple with a ruby red rim. The nose is refined and complex, revealing multiple layers of aroma. A fine blend of wild strawberry, cassis, raspberry and plum provides the base for the elegant floral scents, hints of liquorice and rock rose. The palate is voluptuous, supported by tense linear tannins and clean, crisp flavours of damsons and plums which continue into the long finish. A wonderful expression of Taylor’s LBV, poised and slightly understated with superb finesse. SERVING Excellent with fully flavoured cheeses, especially blue cheeses such as Stilton or Roquefort. It is also delicious with desserts made with chocolate or berry fruits. The wine benefits from being served between 16ºC to 18ºC. 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).