Deep, ruby appearance. Medium + nose stacked with black fruit - black cherry, black plum, blackcurrant. Very complex nose with dried herbs, cinnamon, wood, smoke, leather, and a floral element. The nose is muted and brooding at this stage but you can smell the intensity. On the palate, high acid, full body, pronounced intensity, and high + grippy but elegant tannin. Borderline unctuous on the palate. Red and black fruits come through on the palate. Long finish. I could drink this now but know it would be a crime to do so. Magnificent.
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It features a blue, purple, and blackberry driven perfume, with purple fruit, particularly assorted plum (fresh, preserved, and dried) top notes, along with sweet herbs, dark chocolate, and pipe tobacco. Appealing mineral ore notes linger behind all the prettiness.
Powerful and bracing. It packs the substance to age for at least two decades. Of the three '11 Vintage Ports tasted recently, this showed the most heat (long alcy burn) at the back. Likely to round out in time. Improvement seems possible. 95-96.
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This will be great ina few decades, even out of a 375 this was so young. So primary, no real movement of flavors or profile, I killed a baby here, way too young
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Opened for 53rd wedding anniversary. Infanticide! Still very young though at least the cork came out cleanly. Needed a good 30 minutes in the glass to open up with that voluptuous Taylor violet and pepper nose. A good spiced fruit mouthful but a tannic jolt for those unused to it. Long lingering finish. At least five more years before trying another!
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75 cl bottle. It had a complex and elegant taste, menthol and licorice, but with quite some tannins and alcohol and should be drunk within the first 1-2 hours after opening for a velvet feeling before the tannins and alcohol are hitting or in 2030+. Drinking it after 3 hours was not so pleasant. Next day one could still taste the superb taste, but it was fighting against the tannins and alcohol.
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I can't believe how good this was. From a half bottle, and I've had a few before. But, this was really something. Lithe, effortless, so well integrated. You can barely sense the high alcohol, it's hidden so well. The sweetness was so delicate and unobtrusive too - it just sings. It feels older too, as everything is so in its place. Shockingly good! 98+pts.
Coronavirus Denial; 3/1/2020-5/31/2020: From half-bottle. First time tasting this Port since tasted shortly after release. Color has lost its youthful violet, now very deep cherry-garnet. Nose shows tastefully subdued pretty wood notes and a bit of buttery toffee under the fruit. On the palate, black pepper and licorice underlie pure purple, blue, and dark red fruits. Perfect balance, mild acidity, surprisingly moderate tannins, spirit very smooth and not obtrusive. Phenomenally long finish, sweet and primary. The structure here is showing very early signs of softening, yet overall this is still showing youthful beauty and a promise of long and superb development. I don't typically enjoy young Ports, but the incredible balance makes this enjoyable now. And although I'll be long gone when this hits its peak maturity, I'll be happy to follow it throughout its development. I've decided to lay down a case of half-bottles for just that purpose. Very high probability I will score this higher as it develops.
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I'm hesitant to give a young VP a perfect score, but perhaps this one merits it. Just the same, I'll go with 98 for now.
Taylor hit it out of the park on this vintage: the port is rich and very aromatic, with crème de cassis and hints of menthol, but also structured. You find the sweetness of a young VP and yet somehow restrained and in balance, and the spirits are completely hidden. Drinking incredibly well even now, at age 9, with an endless future.
I would buy a case (I *will* buy a case), drinking perhaps 3 of these fairly young: it is just too good to resist. The main maturity for a port like this is at around 15-30 years out, hence 2026-2041. But if I think about the Taylor 1970, which was probably like this on release and is still remarkable at age 50, I can't see why the 2011 wouldn't still be superb in 2060 and beyond. I won't be around to find out, but maybe someone reading this note can check it out!
98 now, surely 100 by 2025 or 2030.
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From a half bottle. Started out a bit too sweet but quickly evolved to something more balanced, delicate and nuanced. I think I prefer the power from the Fonseca in this vintage, but very nice all the same.
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Feitoria (Lisbon, Portugal): Drank by recommendation of the somm at Feitoria (Lisboa, Portugal). He insisted on day-old 2011 Taylor’s versus the 1985. I was leery of such a young vintage, but he was right in recognizing the early oxidative notes. It certainly has facades of evolution ahead, but it’s not a waste pop one today.
Nose on day one had a slight pyrazine (tomato leaf) note that initially turned me off, but it softened on day two and only added to depth.
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There’s poetry, pure poetry in Taylor Fladgate’s 2011 vintage port; plum, blackberry, espresso, just-baked spice cake, Madagascar Vanilla, sweet tobacco, Chinese Five Spice, and white pepper bedeck the nose. Round and supple on entry, with sumptuous plums and blackberries perched at the fore-palate and framed by cashmere-like, well-integrated tannins. Black tea, dried orange peel, and crushed anise emerge on a languid, unhurried finish. 20.5% ABV
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Alpha Estate & Friends Dinner (Murano, London): Decanted and served. Young but very much approachable. We don't drink that much port but the specific one albeit young felt very much approachable and granted showing only a glimpse of what this could evolve into still drinks very well now and you could not fault opening one at this young aged. Dark and dense, rich but in no way heavy, smooth on the edges even this young and in no way sharp or not giving. Lots of depth of flavor here and time in the cellar would definitely be its best friend,This has 50yrs of life in it at least...
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I was pretty deep in the Xmas spirit by the tie we got to the Port, but this was terrific and clearly well primed for decades fo quality drinking ahead.
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Vin I Nord Fine Wine Fall BYO; 10/28/2017-10/29/2017 (Tord Marius): Tricky. The last wine in the sequence of 21 this evening and this note probably does not provide the wine the righteousness it deserves. Some cherries and hints of tannins?!? Layers upon layers of taste. Marzipan in the finish. Will improve with years, for sure.
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Terroir-istes International - Portugal, Port (Groot Constantia): (Tasted Blind) A deep black-red wine. Fragrant nose displaying damson, caramel coated chocolate and sticky fruit cake. There is a moist quality to the fruit. The entry is that classic iron fist power in a velvet glove; dense but sweet tannins that is intense and concentrated—lovely richness dotted with blackberries, liquorice, a mineral quality, and a certain oak presence. Punchy and energetic, there is also remarkable elegance and finesse with complexity and seamless integration. The wine has a long, persistent finish with all the structure to potentially age for much longer.
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Servi sans préparation si ce n'est un caravane au dernier moment. Troisième rencontre avec ce vin en version 375 ml. Toujours un très bon moment même si je trouve que le vin est entrain de se refermer par rapport à ma première dégustation où le fruit était plus présent. Quoiqu'il en soit un superbe équilibre, l'alcool (20,5 degrés) n'est pas du tout gênant, et les tanins sont superbes pour un vin de ce calibre. 93 aujourd'hui mais certainement bien plus dans 10, 20 ans et plus...
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Taylor 2011 Vintage Port 375ml bottle. Bottled in 2013. Tasted 4/8/17. Decanted 6 hours. Deep purpley black with orange brown rim. The aromatics weren't overpowering but its scent lasted a long time. Smelled faintly of blackberry and dirt wet after it rains. After four days there was strong black cherry, too. And leather once my glass was empty. It was light to medium bodied with medium acidity and lots of tannin. The flavor was definitely blue and black berries/fruit, I had a hard time picking out specifics. It wasn't very sweet but was definitely a simple sugar, that hit mid-palette and resolved before the finish, so little sweetness. The finish, which lasts medium long, is dry and leathery/woodsy.
It's hard for me to rate because this is one of the first really good Ports I've ever had. I prefer more sweetness and stronger berry flavors but I really like its complexity. I'm definitely a fan of VPs, now! 96
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Quite pleasant, a bit grainy and overly sweet at this stage of its development. Not a lot of nuance at this stage, but the future of the port looks bright. I recently had the Fonseca from the same vintage and for me it was better - had a more complex and interesting profile, the sweetness was less obvious and there was even a slight dry tone on the finish which was amazing.
On the 2nd day, this continued to show equally well but not really better - very pleasant but a bit obvious with a grainy sugary profile, but a bit more tannic backbone. Very nice, but I'd leave well enough alone for like five years (or 20 ;-)).
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On the nose a complex mix of earth, coffee, chocolate, fig jam, blackcurrant, cloves. On the palate bright fresh deep core of fruit, inspiring and penetrating, luscious deep and creamy with great perfume. Wonderfully present with great presentiment. 50 + 18 + 19 + 9.
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Still a baby...but I don't care! I like the fruity, juicy style...so for me this is excellent right now. Specially in the wintertime it's good to have an open bottle in the fridge, so you can enjoy a glas after dinner. High quality!
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Outstanding! Had two half bottles. Drank them both the week of the wedding, a few days apart. Still strong tannins, yes. But forceful flavour, very complex with all kinds of berries in there. One of the best vintage wines from Oporto I've ever had, including the ones I brought back from Oporto decades ago.
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This is a monster with dense blackberry, black cherry, cassis, dark purple/black fruits and licorice; rich body, chewy, very tannic, more masculine, closed, huge potential with tightly packed layers, but not as appealing young (as opposed to Fonseca and Churchill's which have plenty of immediate appeal). First bottle was corked, pulled a second off the shelf to everyone's delight! Vintage Port Tasting 2011-1963.
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deep dark purple hue, with rims clinging to the glass. Powerful nose of dark cherry, red fruit, candy. This is still young, with chewy tannins, but it is smooth, with dense layers of dark fruit coating the palate. Very long finish. Glad to have bought 2 cases of this.
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Another incredible showing! Pure and densely, almost impenetrably, layered. The wine needs another two to three decades to reveal its many charms. Drink from 2036-2050.
Pour faire plaisir à un ami portugais, j'ai ouvert mon unique bouteille: grande concentration de fruits noirs, bouche riche, droite, tanins serrés, à attendre un long moment.
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This wine is insane! I´ve never had a port like this. The wine is still young. Primarily blue fruits. The mouthfeel is extremely elegant- burgundy-like. The alcohol is barely there. The wine is very long! The nose was a bit closed, but you could feel the potential underneath. Lovely wine - will open next bottle in some years! Now: 93 Potentially: 97
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Litt lukket på duft første dag. En voldsom konsentrasjon med primært preg på frukten som nærmest eksploderer i munnen. Fløyelsmyk munnfølelse. Alkoholen er svært godt integrert. Lang lang lang ettersmak. Svært god, men ikke spesielt kompleks på nesa per i dag. Tidligere lest notater på at den holder på å lukke seg, kanskje det stemmer. Uansett en helt vanvittig vin.
A wine to celebrate a special occasion; drank over two days. The most primary of the 2011 Vintage Ports I have tasted. The bouquet oscillates between floral perfume, red berries, dark berries, berry liqueur, candied citrus peel, baking spices, dark chocolate ganache, black strap molasses, candied diesel fuel, and a candied crushed black rock suspension. The wine tastes like it smells, changing inflection between all the elements featured in the bouquet. Densely packed yet austere, the least consistently fleshy or weighty of the 2011 Ports I have sampled and showing the most angular alcohol (probably because of the hit and miss fleshiness and weight). At the end of the day these are minor detractions from an absolutely stunning wine. Time will certainly serve it well. Highly enjoyable now, much better in five to seven years and for two or more decades beyond. If scoring for right now, 95, 95-97 overall.
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Huge fruit, impressively good, but young, young, young. The 2007, four years after its vintage date, was much different - young but still nearly perfect to drink. With this 2011, you just ache for it to get older.
Half a bottle, corked for two weeks - so the wine was in with a half bottle of air - came out quite good: enormous red berry and cherry presence, pleasurable to drink; if the air made it go "downhill" I think it was in the finish with some woody taste and harsh liquorice.
A very big wine, should be excellent many years from now.
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Mad scientist nose of seeds, fuel, berry, roots, and algae. Then powerful, plush, and layered, with similar characteristics, some cocoa, and a bit of pepperoni spice, finishing with oak so fresh it's like you tore open a budding branch. Not as long as I expected. So enjoyable in its springtime I wonder how it will evolve. 94-95
48 hour update: accelerating with developing blue bic ballpoint notes.
7-day update: This has definitely fanned out and gained both heft and fire. Increasing score.
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Dark purple in the glass. Concentrated blueberry and boysenberry fruit with a rich smooth texture covering the alcohol content. Still tasting it the next day. Such a well integrated wine with few secondary aromas begs to be held for many years.
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Fantastic now in its youth. This wine will outlive me but it is so acessible already. Great nose with dark berries but the killer is the soft velvety texture in your mouth. Alcohol is finely integrated and the mouthfeel lasts forever. Slight tannic ending.
Do not decant this now. That will push it into a locked down phase. Enjoy now or wait 10 years.
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Dekantert og luftet 18 t. Ikke bunnfall. En av de mest presise viner jeg har luktet og smakt. Perfekt frukt, smak, balanse og munnfølelse. Ekstrem lengde.
Blueberries, crowberries, modest tannin, some spice, overwhelming fruit, very sweet. More sweetness and less tannin than older vintages (70s, 60s) had when they were young, less structured.
Tett, mørk sort-lilla. Ikke så duftintens som jeg ser andre har beskrevet - hoppet ikke ut av glasset, men føles snarere forsiktig aromatisk med søtlig bær- og lakrispreg. Men smaken, derimot... Første lille slurk, så sparker den fra noe så inn i granskauen, tror ikke jeg har smakt noe så konsentrert og eksplosivt. Full pakke med et tonn med svarte bær, saftige plommer, lakris... Voldsom munnfølelse, men tross sin unge alder smaker den bare helt nydelig. Tanninene pent pakket inn i denne fruktige kraftpakken, syren ligger og lurer under overflaten, og ettersmaken er fløyelsmyk og uendelig lang. Man kan kanskje ikke si at alt er integrert etter bare tre år, men den føles i alle fall vidunderlig balansert i ung alder.
Amazing depth and knockout length. Black fruit, florality and spices all framed by a soaring minerality and concentration which almost obliterates the sweetness and alcohol. Stunning wine!
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Fantastisk nese med tørket frukt, nøtter og vanilje. Superintens og meget tiltalende. Rå konsentrasjon som sparker blåmerker i munnhulen. Så ung så ung. Alkoholen kjennes her, skal ikke lyve om det. Alikevel er det umulig å ikke falle for denne vinen. Finishen er helt vanvittig, den sitter i flere minutter. Holy Shit!
Taylor's Port: Primary at first, almost aggressive, like taken straight from a maceration tank. Settles down after a while, revealing dark fruit, some green leaves but less than other ’11s I’ve had, red fruit. Monolithic on the palate, hot, a solid core fruit and nothing much else at the moment. Tannin and acidity are well integrated, in fact almost unnoticeable. Has all the ingredients to reach the top of the summit. Ridiculous to score it now, really. Come back in 20 years' time. 94-100
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Can this wine really last 40 years after bottling? (See the drinking window above, the average of 28 users' drinking windows.) I've aged and drunk vintage port before, but not nearly that long, although I've never aged a Taylor Fladgate. What's the drinking window for a half bottle of this? It should mature a little more quickly, no? What do you think would likely be the peak year or years for drinking this vintage? Please comment with your thoughts. Thanks!
Grippy young Port full of talent! I love young Port because of it' fruit and sharpness and the wine you taste underneath. But do I have enough experience to rate this superb youngster? Anyway, I love it!
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PHMG WAG: Port(ugal) Tasting (The Lyon Lodge): Gnarly! Blackberry, blueberry, cassis, plum, mocha, and earth aren't just dancing on your palate... it's like a mosh pit! The tannins will take a swing at you, so duck (wait!). Great for days ungassed.
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Taylor Vintage Port Vertical (Los Angeles, California): Deep and inky dark cherry color, with lovely purple flashes. The nose leaps from the glass, I could easily smell this across the table. The mixed basket of red, blue and black fruits is remarkably pure, immensely deep, with a freshness reminiscent of a great young gamay. I'm not usually a fan of young Vintage Port, but this is surprisingly elegant on the palate, sweet and enticing yet rich and powerful, without heaviness or intrusive alcohol (I am now a believer in Taylor's improved aguardente quality). The fruit and tannins persist for minutes on the finish. A sensational young Vintage Port, every wine lover really should taste this, and every (young) Port lover needs to have this in their cellar. If I can find one little fault, it would be a slight lack of acidity to match the huge tannins, although this is difficult to judge through the mass of fruit and tannin. Amazing to taste now, but plainly a wine to cellar for many decades. My score is almost certainly too low.
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Luna with Attila and co.: Prune, chocolate, cherry, cassis and blackberry. The palate is incredible approachable - total class, smooth and delicious. A dangerous wine in that it is so easy to drink, that the next morning could find you with an empty bottle and sore head! Long and seriously beautiful wine.
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Finishing up the last bit of the 375ml opened nearly two weeks to the day earlier. Chocolate still dominates, but cassis, black fruit, burnt caramel and plum aromas are there as well. Tannins still have a chalky texture, but the wine is velvety and thick across the palate, featuring flavors of chocolate, blue fruit, cassis and black cherry. Long finish. Seems more expressive tonight and the alcohol has toned down a bit. Paired incredibly well with a chocolate chess pie. 94-95 pts.
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Fom 375ml that had been opened and decanted for 8 hours eleven days earlier, rebottled, vacuvinned and put in the fridge until tonight (long story, certainly not the intention). Inky purple color with aromas of dark chocolate, bramble berry, vanilla, lavender, cocoa powder, blackberry liqueur and cassis. Tannins are firm and chalky on the palate. Blackberry, cassis, brown sugar, blue fruit, cocoa and cherry flavors. Shows a bit hot in the finish. Not as enjoyable as the Dow, but well worth adding to the cellar.
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Vindredi (Bellevue, WA): Tasted blind. Huge nose. Cotton candy, fruit, and vanilla (almost like Caymus!). Big and full bodied, with raisins and spice. A touch syrupy. Definitely young and rough around the edges, this baby needs quite a bit of time.
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Nose: There is an immediate lushness to the nose that is deep and balanced with black cherries, chocolate, raisins, violets, incense, and dark berries. The nose is extremely youthful, but it is open after a long decant with a seamless quality too.
Taste: Full bodied with some very chewy tannins. The youthful structure certainly shows through with the tannins being on the sneakier side. As with the nose, there is a real lushness to the feel with black cherries, incense, violets, chocolate, and dark berries.
Overall: Yes, this is extremely young and it received about 12 hours decanting. This is an amazing young port and shows off the class that Taylor can bring.
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4/17/2024 - OmiyaDrinker wrote: 94 Points
Deep, ruby appearance. Medium + nose stacked with black fruit - black cherry, black plum, blackcurrant. Very complex nose with dried herbs, cinnamon, wood, smoke, leather, and a floral element. The nose is muted and brooding at this stage but you can smell the intensity. On the palate, high acid, full body, pronounced intensity, and high + grippy but elegant tannin. Borderline unctuous on the palate. Red and black fruits come through on the palate. Long finish. I could drink this now but know it would be a crime to do so. Magnificent.
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10/13/2023 - WST Likes this wine:
A Charity event plus two days of birthday celebration; a memorable three day weekend.; 10/13/2023-10/15/2023 (Samish Hill, Bellingham, WA): A vintage port with Stilton cheese, to complete the "classic pairing" theme. I typically wait decades to open a VP, and this demonstrated the error in my ways, and the beauty of opening a young bottle. Dense, dark fruit, licorice. Glycerin mouthfeel, ample tannins; utterly enjoyable.
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9/11/2023 - Motz wrote: 95 Points
Enjoyed over a few days.
It features a blue, purple, and blackberry driven perfume, with purple fruit, particularly assorted plum (fresh, preserved, and dried) top notes, along with sweet herbs, dark chocolate, and pipe tobacco. Appealing mineral ore notes linger behind all the prettiness.
Powerful and bracing. It packs the substance to age for at least two decades. Of the three '11 Vintage Ports tasted recently, this showed the most heat (long alcy burn) at the back. Likely to round out in time. Improvement seems possible. 95-96.
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4/15/2023 - zimmy07 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This will be great ina few decades, even out of a 375 this was so young. So primary, no real movement of flavors or profile, I killed a baby here, way too young
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9/13/2022 - Jowh wrote: 94 Points
So rich day 2.
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4/26/2022 - Whidah Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened for 53rd wedding anniversary. Infanticide! Still very young though at least the cork came out cleanly. Needed a good 30 minutes in the glass to open up with that voluptuous Taylor violet and pepper nose. A good spiced fruit mouthful but a tannic jolt for those unused to it. Long lingering finish. At least five more years before trying another!
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10/1/2021 - short and confused wrote:
Clearly impressive stuff but it was locked down for me. i Like this stuff old so I will try my next one in 2040 if I am still alive
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9/7/2021 - hobbscoast Likes this wine: 94 Points
Delicious
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7/10/2021 - RobbieC Likes this wine:
Fantastic!
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4/28/2021 - Gruffalius Likes this wine: 95 Points
So good.
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1/17/2021 - Sonoma-W Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent! let it sit for a while
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8/5/2020 - joergent Likes this wine: 96 Points
75 cl bottle. It had a complex and elegant taste, menthol and licorice, but with quite some tannins and alcohol and should be drunk within the first 1-2 hours after opening for a velvet feeling before the tannins and alcohol are hitting or in 2030+. Drinking it after 3 hours was not so pleasant. Next day one could still taste the superb taste, but it was fighting against the tannins and alcohol.
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6/19/2020 - John McCabe wrote: 98 Points
I can't believe how good this was. From a half bottle, and I've had a few before. But, this was really something. Lithe, effortless, so well integrated. You can barely sense the high alcohol, it's hidden so well. The sweetness was so delicate and unobtrusive too - it just sings. It feels older too, as everything is so in its place. Shockingly good! 98+pts.
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5/5/2020 - petitblanc wrote: 95 Points
Coronavirus Denial; 3/1/2020-5/31/2020: From half-bottle. First time tasting this Port since tasted shortly after release. Color has lost its youthful violet, now very deep cherry-garnet. Nose shows tastefully subdued pretty wood notes and a bit of buttery toffee under the fruit. On the palate, black pepper and licorice underlie pure purple, blue, and dark red fruits. Perfect balance, mild acidity, surprisingly moderate tannins, spirit very smooth and not obtrusive. Phenomenally long finish, sweet and primary. The structure here is showing very early signs of softening, yet overall this is still showing youthful beauty and a promise of long and superb development. I don't typically enjoy young Ports, but the incredible balance makes this enjoyable now. And although I'll be long gone when this hits its peak maturity, I'll be happy to follow it throughout its development. I've decided to lay down a case of half-bottles for just that purpose. Very high probability I will score this higher as it develops.
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1/19/2020 - KPB wrote: 98 Points
I'm hesitant to give a young VP a perfect score, but perhaps this one merits it. Just the same, I'll go with 98 for now.
Taylor hit it out of the park on this vintage: the port is rich and very aromatic, with crème de cassis and hints of menthol, but also structured. You find the sweetness of a young VP and yet somehow restrained and in balance, and the spirits are completely hidden. Drinking incredibly well even now, at age 9, with an endless future.
I would buy a case (I *will* buy a case), drinking perhaps 3 of these fairly young: it is just too good to resist. The main maturity for a port like this is at around 15-30 years out, hence 2026-2041. But if I think about the Taylor 1970, which was probably like this on release and is still remarkable at age 50, I can't see why the 2011 wouldn't still be superb in 2060 and beyond. I won't be around to find out, but maybe someone reading this note can check it out!
98 now, surely 100 by 2025 or 2030.
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12/31/2019 - Annieshap wrote:
It was delicious
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10/27/2019 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
From a half bottle. Started out a bit too sweet but quickly evolved to something more balanced, delicate and nuanced. I think I prefer the power from the Fonseca in this vintage, but very nice all the same.
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5/31/2019 - MikeJK Likes this wine: 94 Points
Feitoria (Lisbon, Portugal): Drank by recommendation of the somm at Feitoria (Lisboa, Portugal). He insisted on day-old 2011 Taylor’s versus the 1985. I was leery of such a young vintage, but he was right in recognizing the early oxidative notes. It certainly has facades of evolution ahead, but it’s not a waste pop one today.
Nose on day one had a slight pyrazine (tomato leaf) note that initially turned me off, but it softened on day two and only added to depth.
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4/20/2019 - mtaczak Likes this wine: 93 Points
from 375. remarkably tannic, this bruiser will go forever.
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1/1/2019 - Christine Havens Likes this wine: 96 Points
There’s poetry, pure poetry in Taylor Fladgate’s 2011 vintage port; plum, blackberry, espresso, just-baked spice cake, Madagascar Vanilla, sweet tobacco, Chinese Five Spice, and white pepper bedeck the nose. Round and supple on entry, with sumptuous plums and blackberries perched at the fore-palate and framed by cashmere-like, well-integrated tannins. Black tea, dried orange peel, and crushed anise emerge on a languid, unhurried finish. 20.5% ABV
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11/3/2018 - Papies wrote:
Alpha Estate & Friends Dinner (Murano, London): Decanted and served. Young but very much approachable. We don't drink that much port but the specific one albeit young felt very much approachable and granted showing only a glimpse of what this could evolve into still drinks very well now and you could not fault opening one at this young aged. Dark and dense, rich but in no way heavy, smooth on the edges even this young and in no way sharp or not giving. Lots of depth of flavor here and time in the cellar would definitely be its best friend,This has 50yrs of life in it at least...
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12/27/2017 - Dale M wrote: 94 Points
I was pretty deep in the Xmas spirit by the tie we got to the Port, but this was terrific and clearly well primed for decades fo quality drinking ahead.
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10/28/2017 - Torchy Likes this wine: 89 Points
Vin I Nord Fine Wine Fall BYO; 10/28/2017-10/29/2017 (Tord Marius): Tricky. The last wine in the sequence of 21 this evening and this note probably does not provide the wine the righteousness it deserves. Some cherries and hints of tannins?!? Layers upon layers of taste. Marzipan in the finish. Will improve with years, for sure.
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10/14/2017 - Normann wrote: 96 Points
Give it 25 years +
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8/7/2017 - rikipedia Likes this wine: 93 Points
Terroir-istes International - Portugal, Port (Groot Constantia): (Tasted Blind) A deep black-red wine. Fragrant nose displaying damson, caramel coated chocolate and sticky fruit cake. There is a moist quality to the fruit.
The entry is that classic iron fist power in a velvet glove; dense but sweet tannins that is intense and concentrated—lovely richness dotted with blackberries, liquorice, a mineral quality, and a certain oak presence. Punchy and energetic, there is also remarkable elegance and finesse with complexity and seamless integration. The wine has a long, persistent finish with all the structure to potentially age for much longer.
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8/1/2017 - Superjojo57 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Servi sans préparation si ce n'est un caravane au dernier moment.
Troisième rencontre avec ce vin en version 375 ml. Toujours un très bon moment même si je trouve que le vin est entrain de se refermer par rapport à ma première dégustation où le fruit était plus présent.
Quoiqu'il en soit un superbe équilibre, l'alcool (20,5 degrés) n'est pas du tout gênant, et les tanins sont superbes pour un vin de ce calibre.
93 aujourd'hui mais certainement bien plus dans 10, 20 ans et plus...
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7/18/2017 - palbe Likes this wine: 97 Points
Consistent performance and barely any development since our last encounter.
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4/8/2017 - Scheiny Likes this wine: 96 Points
Taylor 2011 Vintage Port 375ml bottle. Bottled in 2013. Tasted 4/8/17. Decanted 6 hours.
Deep purpley black with orange brown rim.
The aromatics weren't overpowering but its scent lasted a long time. Smelled faintly of blackberry and dirt wet after it rains. After four days there was strong black cherry, too. And leather once my glass was empty.
It was light to medium bodied with medium acidity and lots of tannin. The flavor was definitely blue and black berries/fruit, I had a hard time picking out specifics. It wasn't very sweet but was definitely a simple sugar, that hit mid-palette and resolved before the finish, so little sweetness. The finish, which lasts medium long, is dry and leathery/woodsy.
It's hard for me to rate because this is one of the first really good Ports I've ever had. I prefer more sweetness and stronger berry flavors but I really like its complexity. I'm definitely a fan of VPs, now!
96
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3/16/2017 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
Similar to previous notes - deep and attractive.
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12/5/2016 - John McCabe wrote: 95 Points
Quite pleasant, a bit grainy and overly sweet at this stage of its development. Not a lot of nuance at this stage, but the future of the port looks bright. I recently had the Fonseca from the same vintage and for me it was better - had a more complex and interesting profile, the sweetness was less obvious and there was even a slight dry tone on the finish which was amazing.
On the 2nd day, this continued to show equally well but not really better - very pleasant but a bit obvious with a grainy sugary profile, but a bit more tannic backbone. Very nice, but I'd leave well enough alone for like five years (or 20 ;-)).
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11/25/2016 - wgmccallum Likes this wine: 94 Points
On the nose a complex mix of earth, coffee, chocolate, fig jam, blackcurrant, cloves. On the palate bright fresh deep core of fruit, inspiring and penetrating, luscious deep and creamy with great perfume. Wonderfully present with great presentiment. 50 + 18 + 19 + 9.
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10/14/2016 - MarcelloW Likes this wine: 95 Points
Still a baby...but I don't care! I like the fruity, juicy style...so for me this is excellent right now. Specially in the wintertime it's good to have an open bottle in the fridge, so you can enjoy a glas after dinner. High quality!
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4/8/2016 - Ombibulous Likes this wine: 93 Points
Outstanding! Had two half bottles. Drank them both the week of the wedding, a few days apart. Still strong tannins, yes. But forceful flavour, very complex with all kinds of berries in there. One of the best vintage wines from Oporto I've ever had, including the ones I brought back from Oporto decades ago.
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3/12/2016 - peternelson wrote: 94 Points
This is a monster with dense blackberry, black cherry, cassis, dark purple/black fruits and licorice; rich body, chewy, very tannic, more masculine, closed, huge potential with tightly packed layers, but not as appealing young (as opposed to Fonseca and Churchill's which have plenty of immediate appeal). First bottle was corked, pulled a second off the shelf to everyone's delight! Vintage Port Tasting 2011-1963.
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2/7/2016 - fipile Likes this wine: 97 Points
deep dark purple hue, with rims clinging to the glass. Powerful nose of dark cherry, red fruit, candy. This is still young, with chewy tannins, but it is smooth, with dense layers of dark fruit coating the palate. Very long finish. Glad to have bought 2 cases of this.
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2/4/2016 - Motz wrote: 96 Points
Another incredible showing! Pure and densely, almost impenetrably, layered. The wine needs another two to three decades to reveal its many charms. Drink from 2036-2050.
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11/28/2015 - sebastienjm wrote: 93 Points
Pour faire plaisir à un ami portugais, j'ai ouvert mon unique bouteille: grande concentration de fruits noirs, bouche riche, droite, tanins serrés, à attendre un long moment.
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10/1/2015 - Christoffer S Likes this wine:
This wine is insane! I´ve never had a port like this. The wine is still young. Primarily blue fruits. The mouthfeel is extremely elegant- burgundy-like. The alcohol is barely there. The wine is very long! The nose was a bit closed, but you could feel the potential underneath. Lovely wine - will open next bottle in some years! Now: 93 Potentially: 97
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9/26/2015 - Oysteinfb Likes this wine: 94 Points
Litt lukket på duft første dag. En voldsom konsentrasjon med primært preg på frukten som nærmest eksploderer i munnen. Fløyelsmyk munnfølelse. Alkoholen er svært godt integrert. Lang lang lang ettersmak. Svært god, men ikke spesielt kompleks på nesa per i dag. Tidligere lest notater på at den holder på å lukke seg, kanskje det stemmer. Uansett en helt vanvittig vin.
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9/10/2015 - Motz wrote: 96 Points
A wine to celebrate a special occasion; drank over two days. The most primary of the 2011 Vintage Ports I have tasted. The bouquet oscillates between floral perfume, red berries, dark berries, berry liqueur, candied citrus peel, baking spices, dark chocolate ganache, black strap molasses, candied diesel fuel, and a candied crushed black rock suspension. The wine tastes like it smells, changing inflection between all the elements featured in the bouquet. Densely packed yet austere, the least consistently fleshy or weighty of the 2011 Ports I have sampled and showing the most angular alcohol (probably because of the hit and miss fleshiness and weight). At the end of the day these are minor detractions from an absolutely stunning wine. Time will certainly serve it well. Highly enjoyable now, much better in five to seven years and for two or more decades beyond. If scoring for right now, 95, 95-97 overall.
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6/21/2015 - ttholst wrote: 97 Points
Pop and pour. Fantastisk duft. Sømløs smak, ikke merkbar alkohol og vanvittig lengde
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6/5/2015 - Old Doug wrote: 92 Points
Huge fruit, impressively good, but young, young, young. The 2007, four years after its vintage date, was much different - young but still nearly perfect to drink. With this 2011, you just ache for it to get older.
Half a bottle, corked for two weeks - so the wine was in with a half bottle of air - came out quite good: enormous red berry and cherry presence, pleasurable to drink; if the air made it go "downhill" I think it was in the finish with some woody taste and harsh liquorice.
A very big wine, should be excellent many years from now.
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4/18/2015 - Rollerball wrote: 96 Points
Mad scientist nose of seeds, fuel, berry, roots, and algae. Then powerful, plush, and layered, with similar characteristics, some cocoa, and a bit of pepperoni spice, finishing with oak so fresh it's like you tore open a budding branch. Not as long as I expected. So enjoyable in its springtime I wonder how it will evolve. 94-95
48 hour update: accelerating with developing blue bic ballpoint notes.
7-day update: This has definitely fanned out and gained both heft and fire. Increasing score.
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3/20/2015 - Uglypinga Likes this wine:
Sweet and unctuous a baby but struts it like it means it. This will be killer. Lots of dense fruit. Lots of structure.
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3/1/2015 - jviz Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark purple in the glass. Concentrated blueberry and boysenberry fruit with a rich smooth texture covering the alcohol content. Still tasting it the next day. Such a well integrated wine with few secondary aromas begs to be held for many years.
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2/8/2015 - hajoha wrote: 94 Points
Har begynt å lukke seg, men allikevel en smaksbombe av de sjeldne!
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2/7/2015 - Jowh Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fantastic now in its youth. This wine will outlive me but it is so acessible already. Great nose with dark berries but the killer is the soft velvety texture in your mouth. Alcohol is finely integrated and the mouthfeel lasts forever. Slight tannic ending.
Do not decant this now. That will push it into a locked down phase. Enjoy now or wait 10 years.
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2/7/2015 - ttholst wrote: 99 Points
Dekantert og luftet 18 t. Ikke bunnfall. En av de mest presise viner jeg har luktet og smakt. Perfekt frukt, smak, balanse og munnfølelse. Ekstrem lengde.
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2/1/2015 - LWI wrote: 95 Points
Blueberries, crowberries, modest tannin, some spice, overwhelming fruit, very sweet. More sweetness and less tannin than older vintages (70s, 60s) had when they were young, less structured.
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1/7/2015 - GuWin wrote: 96 Points
Tett, mørk sort-lilla. Ikke så duftintens som jeg ser andre har beskrevet - hoppet ikke ut av glasset, men føles snarere forsiktig aromatisk med søtlig bær- og lakrispreg. Men smaken, derimot... Første lille slurk, så sparker den fra noe så inn i granskauen, tror ikke jeg har smakt noe så konsentrert og eksplosivt. Full pakke med et tonn med svarte bær, saftige plommer, lakris... Voldsom munnfølelse, men tross sin unge alder smaker den bare helt nydelig. Tanninene pent pakket inn i denne fruktige kraftpakken, syren ligger og lurer under overflaten, og ettersmaken er fløyelsmyk og uendelig lang. Man kan kanskje ikke si at alt er integrert etter bare tre år, men den føles i alle fall vidunderlig balansert i ung alder.
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12/26/2014 - FjordogFjell Likes this wine: 93 Points
5/5 Fantastisk. Sur/søt blåbærfrukt,
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12/25/2014 - palbe Likes this wine: 97 Points
Amazing depth and knockout length. Black fruit, florality and spices all framed by a soaring minerality and concentration which almost obliterates the sweetness and alcohol. Stunning wine!
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12/14/2014 - hajoha wrote: 96 Points
Fantastisk nese med tørket frukt, nøtter og vanilje.
Superintens og meget tiltalende.
Rå konsentrasjon som sparker blåmerker i munnhulen.
Så ung så ung.
Alkoholen kjennes her, skal ikke lyve om det. Alikevel er det umulig å ikke falle for denne vinen.
Finishen er helt vanvittig, den sitter i flere minutter.
Holy Shit!
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11/22/2014 - Timbalimba wrote: 94 Points
Taylor's Port: Primary at first, almost aggressive, like taken straight from a maceration tank. Settles down after a while, revealing dark fruit, some green leaves but less than other ’11s I’ve had, red fruit. Monolithic on the palate, hot, a solid core fruit and nothing much else at the moment. Tannin and acidity are well integrated, in fact almost unnoticeable. Has all the ingredients to reach the top of the summit. Ridiculous to score it now, really. Come back in 20 years' time. 94-100
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10/22/2014 - Ombibulous wrote:
Can this wine really last 40 years after bottling? (See the drinking window above, the average of 28 users' drinking windows.) I've aged and drunk vintage port before, but not nearly that long, although I've never aged a Taylor Fladgate. What's the drinking window for a half bottle of this? It should mature a little more quickly, no? What do you think would likely be the peak year or years for drinking this vintage? Please comment with your thoughts. Thanks!
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10/21/2014 - aagrawal wrote: 93 Points
Wine & Spirits Top 100 Tasting (City Walk @ Metreon, San Francisco, CA): Wonderful density, among the best balance that I've tasted in a young port. Not alcoholic, just enjoyable. Wonderful. 92-93++
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9/30/2014 - fcxj wrote: 92 Points
At Taylor Fladgate
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4/25/2014 - KingClint wrote: flawed
Corked
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3/17/2014 - Kriz wrote: 94 Points
Grippy young Port full of talent! I love young Port because of it' fruit and sharpness and the wine you taste underneath. But do I have enough experience to rate this superb youngster? Anyway, I love it!
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3/8/2014 - Grinner wrote: 95 Points
PHMG WAG: Port(ugal) Tasting (The Lyon Lodge): Gnarly! Blackberry, blueberry, cassis, plum, mocha, and earth aren't just dancing on your palate... it's like a mosh pit! The tannins will take a swing at you, so duck (wait!). Great for days ungassed.
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3/1/2014 - petitblanc wrote: 95 Points
Taylor Vintage Port Vertical (Los Angeles, California): Deep and inky dark cherry color, with lovely purple flashes. The nose leaps from the glass, I could easily smell this across the table. The mixed basket of red, blue and black fruits is remarkably pure, immensely deep, with a freshness reminiscent of a great young gamay. I'm not usually a fan of young Vintage Port, but this is surprisingly elegant on the palate, sweet and enticing yet rich and powerful, without heaviness or intrusive alcohol (I am now a believer in Taylor's improved aguardente quality). The fruit and tannins persist for minutes on the finish. A sensational young Vintage Port, every wine lover really should taste this, and every (young) Port lover needs to have this in their cellar. If I can find one little fault, it would be a slight lack of acidity to match the huge tannins, although this is difficult to judge through the mass of fruit and tannin. Amazing to taste now, but plainly a wine to cellar for many decades. My score is almost certainly too low.
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2/26/2014 - berlinhotel Likes this wine: 97 Points
one week tasting of 5 Vintage ports 2011 at home. 97-98+
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2/17/2014 - CamWheeler wrote: 95 Points
Luna with Attila and co.: Prune, chocolate, cherry, cassis and blackberry. The palate is incredible approachable - total class, smooth and delicious. A dangerous wine in that it is so easy to drink, that the next morning could find you with an empty bottle and sore head! Long and seriously beautiful wine.
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1/17/2014 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
Finishing up the last bit of the 375ml opened nearly two weeks to the day earlier. Chocolate still dominates, but cassis, black fruit, burnt caramel and plum aromas are there as well. Tannins still have a chalky texture, but the wine is velvety and thick across the palate, featuring flavors of chocolate, blue fruit, cassis and black cherry. Long finish. Seems more expressive tonight and the alcohol has toned down a bit. Paired incredibly well with a chocolate chess pie. 94-95 pts.
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1/15/2014 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Fom 375ml that had been opened and decanted for 8 hours eleven days earlier, rebottled, vacuvinned and put in the fridge until tonight (long story, certainly not the intention). Inky purple color with aromas of dark chocolate, bramble berry, vanilla, lavender, cocoa powder, blackberry liqueur and cassis. Tannins are firm and chalky on the palate. Blackberry, cassis, brown sugar, blue fruit, cocoa and cherry flavors. Shows a bit hot in the finish. Not as enjoyable as the Dow, but well worth adding to the cellar.
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1/12/2014 - elise wrote: 90 Points
Nose of Candy, somewhat chemical from fortification
Palate is somewhat hot, tons of acid, good backbone, slightly rough around the edges
Tasted in a formal setting with little to no breathing time
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1/10/2014 - dpolivy wrote: 93 Points
Vindredi (Bellevue, WA): Tasted blind. Huge nose. Cotton candy, fruit, and vanilla (almost like Caymus!). Big and full bodied, with raisins and spice. A touch syrupy. Definitely young and rough around the edges, this baby needs quite a bit of time.
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12/25/2013 - KeithAkers wrote: 95 Points
Nose: There is an immediate lushness to the nose that is deep and balanced with black cherries, chocolate, raisins, violets, incense, and dark berries. The nose is extremely youthful, but it is open after a long decant with a seamless quality too.
Taste: Full bodied with some very chewy tannins. The youthful structure certainly shows through with the tannins being on the sneakier side. As with the nose, there is a real lushness to the feel with black cherries, incense, violets, chocolate, and dark berries.
Overall: Yes, this is extremely young and it received about 12 hours decanting. This is an amazing young port and shows off the class that Taylor can bring.
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8/23/2013 - pwillen1 wrote:
Old Oregon Pinot with Travis and Friends (Little Bird): Big raisiny nose with complex and evolving palate. Buy and hold.
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