Taylor’s ‘Single Harvest’ Tawny Port 1961
Grape Varietals: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Cão & Tinta Amarela
Growing Region: Douro Valley - Portugal
Head Winemaker: David Guimaraens
5 Stars ★★★★★
The fruit for this rare wine comes from Taylor’s own vineyards in the Douro - Quinta de Vargellas, Quinta de Terra Feita and Quinta do Junco. These three iconic properties, each with their own unique character, are the cornerstone of the company’s success and the main source of its unique and inimitable house style.
This is a Port from a single year which has aged to full maturity in seasoned oak casks and displays 1961, the year of harvest. Often referred to as a ‘Colheita’ - these single harvest Ports are very different to a declared ‘Vintage’ Port. As a Colheita will very slowly and gently age in oak casks - and this occasion six decades creating a wine of extreme complexity and delightful mellow structure.
Taylor’s has an extensive library of very old Port Wines, and this 1961 Single Harvest Port represents the crème-de-la-creme of their aged reserves. An extraordinary wine aged gently in the cool, tranquil Taylor’s cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia where the conditions are ideal for the wines to slowly develop the rich and complex aromas, characteristics of very old Tawny Port Wines. In December 2020, a very small quantity of this incredible Port was released with an exclusive limited edition of only 2,900 bottles produced.
• In your glass you will be greeted by an elegant walnut colour with a halo of olive-gold highlights. This Port has a hypnotic aroma with envisaged complexity and luxury, confidently revealing aromas of molasses, dried fig and raisins mingling with a core of marzipan. Then when you go back to the glass before that first sip - you are engaged by scents of cedar and tobacco together with five-spice and cardamom and a deft hint of citrus.
Initially on the palate you are warmly introduced to silky vanilla oak flavours, a legacy of decades of ageing in cask. The wine has a beguiling intensity, though concentrated, it has an incredible velvety texture, and a mid-palate that is lifted by a burst of fresh acidity on the most rewarding finish, which leaves your taste buds enjoying butterscotch, walnut, dried fruits along with candied orange peel. A beautifully balanced wine, with still a spring in its step, even after so many years.
This 1961 Taylor’s ‘Limited Edition’ Single Harvest Tawny Port has 20% Alc./vol. and with approximately 175g/L of residual sugar. No decanting required, serve gently chilled in an appropriate glass at 12°- 16°C.
CELLARING POTENTIAL: *(Review 11/7/21)
No further ageing required, drinking now: once opened store in a cool place and enjoy within 2 months.
FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTIONS:
Perfect wine accompaniment to desserts like coffee-cream roulade and tiramisu, roasted almond, caramel or walnut cheesecakes, plus blue cheese & figs and dried fruits - enjoy.
