Made with the best fruit sourced from the Quinta de Vargellas, Quinta de Terra Feita and Quinta do Junco estates. First vinified by foot-treading, then followed by additional extraction by robotic plungers. Fortified with 77% aguardente, aged in large oak vats for 1½ to 2 years, then bottled unfined and unfiltered. 20% alcohol, 99 g/l residual sugar and 4,7 g/l acidity.
Very dark, slightly translucent and subtly evolved black cherry color with a faint pomegranate hue. At first the nose feels somewhat vague and understated with a somewhat rubbery note, then slowly opens up to reveal characterful, dark-toned aromas of blackberries and other dark berries, some black cherries, a little bit of elderberry juice, light bilberry tones, a hint of dried figs, a floral touch of violets and a whiff of cacao nibs. The wine feels juicy, sweet and quite ripe on the palate with a full body and intense flavors of juicy blackberries and overripe bilberries, some sweet plummy tones, a little bit of elderberry juice, light floral notes of violets, a hint of licorice and a touch of wizened black cherries. The overall feel is medium-to-moderately high in acidity, but the structure relies more on the quite grippy medium-plus tannins. The finish is ripe, juicy and moderately grippy with a long, sweet aftertaste of blackberry jam and overripe bilberries, some floral notes of violets, a little bit of licorice, light elderberry juice tones, dried-fruit hints of wizened black cherries and dried figs and a touch of cacao nibs.
A firm, intense and still very youthful Vintage Port. The overall feel is quite noticeably ripe and perhaps a bit sweeter, more fruit-driven than I expected from a Taylor's VP. However, the overall feel is still pretty balanced and there is enough tannic backbone to keep things from coming across as too soft. Tasting this next to the 2003 Taylor's VP, this wine was more to my liking - the wine not only packed more structure, but the overall feel was still relatively vibrant and youthful compared to the much more softer and somewhat more pruney 2003. I feel this is still going to be on an upward trajectory for quite some time. While I doubt this is going to be a particularly memorable Taylor's VP in the long run, I can still see this wine aging and improving gracefully for years - most likely even decades - more. Feels a bit pricey for its quality at 135€, though.