Taylor’s Very Very Old Tawny Port (Coronation of King Charles III Limited Bottling)

BY NEAL MARTIN | MAY 15, 2023

The Coronation of King Charles III inevitably was the perfect excuse for many English sparkling wine producers to mark the occasion with limited edition cuvées, likewise, Port Houses that have deep English roots. One that I recently tasted was from Taylor’s Fladgate, who raided some of their oldest reserves to blend a limited run of 1,500 bottles of what they have called their Very Very Old Tawny Port.

I was sent a sample and naturally tasted it as our monarch was being handed his orb and scepter. It has quite a punchy bouquet, a little nuttier and smokier than expected, with Montecristo cigars mixed with sweeter scents of nougat and vanilla pod. The sweetness comes through more on the palate than the nose. It’s very well balanced and clearly blended to be drunk now instead of being cellared like nearly all tawny Ports. Molasses, grilled hazelnuts with a pinch of cracked black pepper appear toward the finish. There is a seductive viscosity towards the finish with just the faintest dab of dried honey. Delightful. 94/Drink 2023-2033.

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