1971 'Very Old' Single Harvest Port, Taylors, Douro, Portugal

Taylor’s holds one of the most extensive reserves of very old cask aged Port of any producer. They include a collection of rare Single Harvest Ports. These are Ports from a single year which age to full maturity in seasoned oak casks and display the year of harvest on the label. Taylor’s has decided to make a limited release, each year, of a Single Harvest Port made 50 years previously. The eighth in the series is the 1971 Single Harvest.

Medium tawny-brown hue gradually fading to a broad rim of pale amber. A wonderfully complete, multidimensional nose with a fine balance rare in a port matured in cask for five decades. The seductive redolence of oak wood does nothing to disturb the wine’s symmetry and poise. Warm mellow notes of black coffee, molasses and marzipan blend with dried fig, sultana and woody notes of cigar box and cedar. Subtle hints of tobacco leaf, faded rose petal and black tea as well as spicy aromas of black pepper and scents of orange flower combine to give the wine an attractive aromatic character. The overall effect is surprisingly light and ethereal, intense but never overwhelming. The impression of lightness continues into the palate. Its roundness and silky texture are balanced by a fresh, perfectly integrated acidity which provides an attractive lift to the long, mellow finish. Elegance and equilibrium are the hallmarks of this very fine aged tawny in which multiple layers and dimensions of aroma and flavour combine in perfect harmony.