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We tasted some bottles of Taylor and its relatives, in The Bung Hole, on Friday 22nd March 2013.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1920 Taylor;
• 1924 Taylor;
• 1927 Taylor;
• 1935 Taylor;
• 1945 Taylor;
• 1948 Taylor;
• 1950 Taylor Special Quinta;
• 1955 Taylor;
• 1960 Taylor;
• 1963 Taylor;
• 1965 Taylor Quinta de Vargellas;
• 1966 Taylor;
• 1970 Taylor;
• 1970 Taylor Quinta de Vargellas;
• 1976 Taylor Quinta de Vargellas;
• 1977 Taylor;
• 1980 Taylor;
• 1983 Taylor;
• 1985 Taylor;
• 1986 Taylor Quinta de Terra Feita;
• Placemats;
• Planning and arrangements.

A delivery from AHB:

Can you make out the bottler from the moulding on the capsule?

Having removed your sticker, at the top I see ‟E.S.W.S???EY”.

The letters at the bottom are very worn.

The Taylor 1948 has an uneven bottom, so does not stand vertically.

T20: brick red, 30% opaque. Nose had dark plums. taste starts big and sweet. Plums, heat, white pepper. Dry mid-palate, with some Taylor-esque grittiness. But very big, and very long. Very impressive port. Later still big, but more perfume. This was the first port, and already the evening was a success.

Rim is clear, core is see-through light burgundy. Nose very inviting with dried fruit and nuts and warm caramel. Palate is quite mellow but with good balance, fruit still in evidence but also notes of oranges and marzipan perhaps? A truly exceptional wine and my third favourite of the night. 94 pts.

Deep orange in colour, hint of brown; 30% opaque. Lovely rich nose, spicy and full of fruity cedar wood, very concentrated. Thick texture, very full bodied. Peppery and spicy, lots of cloves and aniseed but a little dry and woody. A bit of a kick on the aftertaste before a huge, spicy and cedary finish of tremendous length. Fantastic port, with a wonderful palate. 92/100. 22-Mar-13. Decanted 1 hour.