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Taylor, Taylor Fladgate 2018

Tasting Notes

Remarkably harmonious already, with a beautiful display of unadulterated blueberry, blackberry and plum sauce flavors that fan out, while anise, ganache and cassis accents fill in. So lush and seductive through the finish, it’s nearly drinkable. But just wait. Best from 2030 through 2050.

96
James Molesworth, WineSpectator.com, January 2021

Aromatic and expressive, this adds a big bang for a finish that reminds you that it is, indeed, Taylor's. After opening it on the first day tasted, it tightened fast and showed the structure I like to see in serious Ports. It has that classic flavor profile as well and shows fine concentration. Even 48 hours later it had no problem showing off a little muscle, even though it drank decently at that point. The fruit is expressive, as noted, but it is still a bit closed just now.

95
Mark Squires, RobertParker.com (Week 3 Dec), December 2020

Opaque and saturated, black in colour. An intensely aromatic nose packed with a multitude of nuances. Plush, polished & peppery with notes of cassis, fig, date and Xmas pudding. A whiff of tar, menthol and charcoal too. Nutmeg & cloves. On the palate it is immediately super concentrated with a generous, rounded, thick and velvety, svelte mouthfeel. A punch of warmth too. Lots of ripe raisin fruit. The tannins are firm but smooth and there is a lift of freshness more reminiscent of the 2016 Taylor than the 2017. A really elegant, poised and precise wine. Power and finesse combined – a classic Taylor.

96+
Farr Vintners, Farr Tasting, January 2021

Blackish crimson. Neat-looking. Pepper and herbs on the nose – almost makes you want to sneeze. And again the voluptuous fruit almost kids you that you could drink this now but instead there is a massive charge of fine tannin underneath. This is definitely not for sipping now but is a monument for the future. Rather dry and refined as opposed to opulent. (Go to Fonseca Guimaraens for opulence.) Very long, dry and savoury overall within the vintage port canon. Drink 2035-2060

17.5+
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, December 2020

A ‘classic’ declaration from Taylor’s: a blend from Quinta de Vargellas in the Douro Superior (‘the backbone’) and Quintas Terra Feita and Junco in the Pinhão Valley. Deep, scented (violets and esteva or gum cistus), minty too, restrained but already quite expressive; lovely pure mint and berry fruit backed by fine grained tannins which rise in the mouth to a long, level, linear finish. Not especially big but beautifully poised and very elegant. This has all the qualities of a long term keeper. It is already magnificent and will be even more so in 15 to 20 years.

19.5
Richard Mayson, richardmayson.com, January 2021
Read more tasting notes...

Sluicing, fresh acidity teases out notes of crushed stones, spearmint and sage. The fruit sweetness brings a sweet overlay to the finish, balancing the mouth-coating cocoa dust tannins. With time in glass, violet top notes emerge. On day two, the acidity seemingly buoys the fruit, the tannins, the guiding backbone. Great intensity, juice and flow within the tannin structure to the polished blackcurrant, with its minerals, floral and herbaceous notes. Bridge describes the acidity as ‘wiry,’ which captures it well. The tannins clasp the wine on the finish, making for a classic Taylor’s dryness, austerity. A keeper.

Sarah Ahmed, The Wine Detective, December 2020
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.