Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port 2018
(Portugal) - [WE 98] [VM 97] [WS 96] [JS 96] [WA 95]

Notes from the Winemaker:
Opaque black at the centre with a narrow purple rim. Uncompromisingly Taylor Fladgate in style, elegant and precise. The nose is threaded with very fine, linear fruit, heady and complex but restrained by a graphite minerality. Quinta da Vargellas has imprinted its signature fragrance of violets, which hangs like a scented veil over the wine, and there are discreet terroir notes of citrus, wild herbs and gumcistus. The nose is still reserved but there is impressive depth and background, as well as hints of complexities still to emerge with time. The palate is held in place by lithe, muscular tannins, firm and grippy on the finish, and ends with a powerful surge of crisp, pure berry fruit. A beautifully delineated wine, with the hallmark Taylor Fladgate poise and definition and the tantalising promise of pleasures still to come.

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98 Points & #10 Top 100 Cellar Selections 2021 - Wine Enthusiast:
"This is an exceptional vintage, most unusually the third declared in a row from this producer. Intensely perfumed and richly structured with dark black fruits and concentrated tannins, it is set for seriously long-term aging. The power of the wine, based around the producer's Quinta da Vargellas, is magnificent. Drink this major Port from 2029." - Roger Voss (12/31/2020)

97 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2018 Taylor's Vintage Port comes predominantly from two vineyards: Quinta de Vargellas and Quinta de Terra Feita. It has a classy, aristocratic bouquet, a signature note apropos Taylor's Vintage: dense black fruit with touches of melted tar, cloves and white pepper. This just builds and builds in the glass. The palate is very harmonious with fine tannins, perfect acidity and very pure with a gentle, almost caressing second half. White pepper interlaces the black fruit with a very precise finish. Pure class." - Neal Martin (Jun 2020)

96 Points & Highly Recommended - Wine Spectator:
"Remarkably harmonious already, with a beautiful display of unadulterated blueberry, blackberry and plum sauce flavors that fan out, while anise, ganache and cassis accents fill in. So lush and seductive through the finish, it’s nearly drinkable. But just wait. Best from 2030 through 2050. 7,800 cases made.” - JM (Feb 2021)

96 Points - James Suckling: 
"Very attractive dried fruit with hints of stems and fresh herbs. Violets and dark berries, too. Full-bodied with a dense center palate of fruit and intense, chewy tannins. Yet, there’s polish and refinement to the texture. Relatively dry and precise at the finish. Reminds me of 1980, but with much better polish to it. Wait until at least 2027 to take a look." (Sep 2020)

95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"The 2018 Vintage Port is a field blend aged for approximately 18 months in very old and large wooden vats. It comes in with 100 grams of residual sugar. This is the third straight declaration (2016, 2017 and this 2018) of a classic Vintage Port for Taylor's. Of those three, this so far would be my least favorite, but it's close and time will tell. Aromatic and expressive, this adds a big bang for a finish that reminds you that it is, indeed, Taylor's. After opening it on the first day tasted, it tightened fast and showed the structure I like to see in serious Ports. It has that classic flavor profile as well and shows fine concentration. Even 48 hours later it had no problem showing off a little muscle, even though it drank decently at that point. The fruit is expressive, as noted, but it is still a bit closed just now. " - Mark Squires (Dec 2020)