…alluring viscosity

Taylor’s is one of the most highly respected producers of aged Tawny Ports. I was recently hosted by Taylor's, visiting their vineyards in the Douro and cellars in Vila Nova di Gaia, and there is no hiding their passion, renowned for an incredible attention to detail. This 40-Year-old Tawny, is the ideal balance between the rich character of Port, with a smooth personality and finish that is something to behold. This superbly aged Tawny crafted from their best vineyards in the heart of the Douro.
After a focused fermentation period, the process was halted by the addition of fine grape spirit before all of the natural residual sugars had been fermented, creating a sweet, aromatic fortified wine. Individual wine parcels produced in different vintages are aged in neutral 600-litre oak casks for many years, over which time they will lose their youthful, dark red-black colour to gain the distinctive ‘Tawny’ tones from which the Port wine takes its name.
Taylor’s have extensive reserves of old cask aged Ports maturing in their cool, quiet cellars (known as lodges) in Vila Nova de Gaia, looking over the famed Douro River which leads to the Atlantic coast.
As this Tawny Port aged, it took on increasingly more nut flavours and become more concentrated as the barrels lose around 3% of their volume each year (known as the Angels’ share) to evaporation. Slowly developing complexity and mellow flavours and its characteristic silky-smooth palate texture, which is a hallmark of Taylor’s Port wines. This Taylor’s 40-Year-Old Tawny Port is a blend created using several aged Tawny components with an average of 40 years of age in the final blend.

★ You are hypnotised by the vivid amber-tawny colour. The alluringly complex aromas are hard to resist. Instantly engaging and voluptuous across the palate confidently revealing those rich layers of flavour, starting with five-spice, caramel, nougat and roasted almonds. Seamlessly followed by notes of grilled peaches, butterscotch all held together with a fine oak structure coming from the long aging in neutral large casks. In this 40-Year-Old Tawny, the fruit has mellowed to showcase a marzipan nuance elegantly infused with dried ginger resulting in a refined and multi-layered character. This 40-year-old Tawny has such an intensity, though lands so softly on the palate, with a radiance and smooth viscous texture. Incredibly broad and engaging with concentrated flavours all culminate in a finish of remarkable length.

This 40-Year-Old Tawny Port wine has been filtered before bottling and is ready to be enjoyed when released onto the market and does not require any further ageing in bottle.
This Taylor’s 40-Year-Old Tawny Port has 20% Alc./vol. and has 125g/L of residual sugar. No decanting required and serve in an appropriately shaped medium wine glass at 14°- 15°C. - *NZ$295.00

CELLARING POTENTIAL: *(Article Posted 16/7/23)
Drinking perfectly this season; plus, can age, hold its character for another 6 - 8 years. Once opened - store in a cool place and enjoy within 2 - 3 months.

FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTIONS:
Perfect wine pairing grilled peach or apricot tart, caramel cheesecake, hazelnut ice-cream, carrot cake, brandy-snaps, coffee cream eclairs, cannoli's, rich cheeses, and figs with honey - enjoy.