New Vintage Port in the Flickinger Fine Wines inventory http://www.flickingerwines.com/wineregions/vintageport.asp FTLOP 94 (10/2007): Cola colored with a yellow rim. Hot initially with alcohol in spades, but I was able to stay focused and allowed the '55 to accentuate its positives. The rest of the story on the nose is a cedary cigar and spicy scent along with pralines, which helped me to get over the early heat. There is a ying-yang thing going on with the balance between citrus and the nutty nuances akin to a roller coaster ride where your scared ----less but have a great time anyway. A light and ultra sweet profile fortunately meet the requisite acidity to keep everything in that happy place. Another very fine Colheita by Burmester.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Burmeister.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/ChurchillGraham.aspMB **** (11/1992): Five notes, the first two shortly after bottling: very deep purple; very sweet, plump and smooth. In the spring of 1989 and summer of 1990, still fairly youthful looking; a meaty, almost maltily rich nose; again markedly sweet. By the early 1990's, changed colour, maturing pleasantly, good flavour, body and balance. One of the best vintages of Delaforce I can recall. Now-2015.FTLOP 90 (12/2010): Rusty burgundy color with burnt sugar notes in the nose. On the sweeter side with a dry finish - a little on thin on the mouth feel. Hints of baking spice and clean grape. Just enough acidity to make it an enjoyable vintage. This is drink or hold. I don’t think it’ll improve, but no rush to drink them if you have some.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Delaforce.aspFTLOP 90 (7/2005): Cask sample. Floral and black currant notes, that deliver full-bodied heft, with simple but very sweet, big blueberry flavors. Early on it was a bit thin and a bit hot, with a medium body. That all changed by the second day when this wine shone bigger and brighter and the alcohol integrated with further aeration. The medium length to the finish was supported by drying tannins. 5,000 cases produced.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Delaforce.aspMB **** (10/1998): Nearly 30, well spread, slightly variable, notes. By the late 1980s still fairly deep and youthfully plum-coloured; excellent nose, fragrant, forthcoming, an almost Cabernet Sauvignon-like fruit, plus liquorice; full-bodied, nice texture, fleshy - as Dow goes. At two Symington tastings, in 1994 and 1996, alongside Graham and Warre, the first time not showing well, the next very much par for the course, though a different style. Uneven bottles in Aspen, one with high volatile acidity, but a good Oporto-bottling. Attractive and sweeter than expected in 1997; rich, good 'grip' in 1998. Showing well at the definitive bicentenary tasting: maturing nicely; some fruit, fragrant, spicy bouquet and flavour. Hot dry finish. Now-2020.FTLOP 95+ (7/2010): Bottled by Courtenay Wine International, London, NW 11. I purchased a half dozen bottles of this lot back in 1989. Decanted 9 hours in advance for the occasion of our celebration of FTLOP website's 5th Anniversary with Stewart Todd and our wives. Medium ruby in color with a light strawberry-pink edge. Offering up a lovely fragrance of mace, strawberry, nutmeg and mocha. I've not opened one of these from my home cellar in a long time, but this bottle was about as good as D70 gets. Decadent to say the least, with sweet and supple red fruit flavors up front, lots of acidity and fully resolved tannins. A gorgeous 40 year old that is just entering the tertiary stage of evolution; the middle was stuffed with intense and chewy layers of refined raspberry and lots of caramel on the sublime finish. We did not finish the bottle, so I waited until the 2nd day to enjoy the remaining glass and noted some toffee notes and almost a raisiny sweetness. Full and elegant, this gained richness texturally and a bit more viscosity too. It drinks beautifully now and should deliver lots of pleasure through 2030. WS 94 (12/1999): I have always been a fan of this very fine and well-made Port. Truly balanced in character, with focused flowers, spice and cherry. Full-bodied, with a sweet palate and a fine texture.--Dow vertical. Drink now.WA 90 (9/2010): With a pale colour, this wine has developed into mainly earthy, meaty, gamey aromas with discernable notes of loam, underbrush and a touch of caramel over the sultana and Chinese dried plum fruit. After a few minutes, appealing scents of orange peel and dark chocolate begin to emerge. Crisp, rich, warm and spicy on the palate, with a remaining low to medium level of silky tannins. Long finish. Peaked.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Dow.aspMB ****[*] (10/1998): In 1979 crisp, ruby purple; spirity, beef-tea nose; sweet, full yet fleshy. Loads of all the appropriate component parts. Over two dozen well-spaced notes, later illustrating the beginning of colour loss in mid-1980s, though still ruby, intense, translucent. The nose endlessly fascinating with sweet, fig-like fruit, a squeeze of tangerine, cognac-like spirit, tight-knit bu developing fragrance. A decade later rich, intense, almost explosively assertive, with the grip of a good vintage and along lean dry finish. Attractive bottles in the late 1990s and, most recently, a very fragrantly scented magnum almost eau de cologne (we were informed that a very distinctive 'herbal' nose is common to all '77s). Unusual, high-toned, delicious.FTLOP 93+ (7/2004): Decanted 10 hours prior to service. At 6 hours, it was overpowering and still showing some spirit on the nose and finish. The '77 Dow's needs little introduction and is a very big wine, as is its older brother from 1970. Still showing dark ruby-purple with a suggestion of age showing on the edge, but its core is opaque. Lovely fragrances that depict just picked plums I did so yesterday, a malt character which I don't often sense and an herbal note as well. The concentrated and fleshy juice is packed with powerful, dense dark berry fruit, highlighted by a touch of spicy licorice and cedar. I really like this wine yet it is young and brooding if not reticent still, kind of like driving a Ferrari in traffic. The richness and wonderfully smooth mouthfeel is met with omnipresent yet round tannins that meld into a sublime, lengthy and juicy finish that is somewhat drying. A decade from now the Dow 1977 is going to be a heck of a mature Port that won't even have reached its peak!WA 93 (1/1989): This is an extraordinary house that seems to have been particularly successful with its vintage port since 1977.The 1977, still a baby, is fabulously scented, very rich and concentrated, and has a potential longevity of at least another 30-50 years. WS 92 (12/2008): Medium brick-red. Aromas of coffee, prune and milk chocolate. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with a licorice, berry, custard and cream character. Firm and racy. Long and delicious. Firm and beautiful. Just ready now. '77/'85/'97 blind Port retrospective. Best from 2008 through 2016.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Dow.aspMB ****[*] (10/1998): Five consistently good notes. First in 1993, very distinctive. Next at a Dow vertical in Aspen in June 1994, then a very high mark at a Symington tasting that autumn and at the MW tasting in 1995. Initially an intense mulberry colour, still deep, velvety; powerful yet harmonious nose, rich, figgy; very sweet, crisp, good flesh and fruit. Lasted tasted Oct 1998. Drink 2005-2025.FTLOP 88 (11/2005): It is fun to revisit this wine as it has been a few years since I have had it. Medium ruby in color. This seems like it is still emerging from its 'dumb phase' as it was a bit tighter than any previous bottle. Anise, and strawberry aromas took much coaxing to come out and play, with a solid dose of alcohol protruding. The palate is better than the nose but not offering a lot either with red berry fruit, smooth mouth feel and a medium finish showing ripe tannins. Maybe this needed longer decanting?http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Dow.aspMB ***[*]: On 1 January 1980, the London agent invited orders for immediate shipment at GBP48 per dozen bottles F.O.B., in wooden cases with 'lead capsules, branded corks, labels and chalk marks'. Minimum order five cases. No free storage. 'Quantity small...excellent quality.' Very impressive at the opening tasting: deep purple; hard, spirity nose; powerful, well-balanced. At the end of the 1980s still fairly deep, plummy; classic, black cherry fruit nose; very sweet, fairly full-bodied, lovely texture. A great future predicted. However, like a lot of '77s beginning to lose colour by the mid-1990s, a bit spirity and lean but sweet, with delightful fruit. Showing well at Warren Winiarski's 30th anniversary dinner in the Napa Valley, March 1998. Most recently: sweet, glorious flavour, perfect now. Drink now-2025. WA 93 (1989): Fonseca is one of the great port lodges, producing the most exotic and most complex port. If Fonseca lacks the sheer weight and power of a Taylor, Dow or Warre, or the opulent sweetness and intensity of a Graham, it excels in its magnificently complex, intense bouquet of plummy, cedary, spicy fruit and long, broad, expansive flavors. With its lush, seductive character, one might call it the Pomerol of Vintage ports. When it is young, it often loses out in blind tastings to the heavier, weightier, more tannic wines, but I always find myself upgrading my opinion of Fonseca after it has had 7-10 years of age. The 1977 has developed magnificently in the bottle, and while it clearly needs another decade to reach its summit, it is the best Fonseca since the 1970 and 1963.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Fonseca.aspWA 97 (2/1995): Fonseca has scored in both the 1991 and 1992 vintages. The 1992 is a majestic young port that should ultimately rival, perhaps even surpass this house's most recent great efforts (1985, 1977, 1970, 1963). This colossal vintage port reveals a nearly opaque black/purple color, and an explosive nose of jammy black fruits, licorice, chocolate, and spices. Extremely full-bodied and unctuously-textured, this multi-layered, enormously-endowed port reveals a finish that lasts for over a minute. It is a magnificent port that will age well for 30-40 years.FTLOP 93+ (5/2006): Although I have had this VP only a handful of times in the past, it was the first bottle I?ve ever opened from my own cellar. Decanted for 7 hours, and consumed over the following three. Very dark ruby in color. Scents of dark cherry, cedar and anise load the glass. Closer to medium-bodied than a heavy weight with a smooth mouthfeel that is not silky. The palate offers semi-sweet, approachable blackcurrant and plum flavors with some licorice and chocolate intertwined on the slightly spirituous but otherwise lengthy finish. Although the structure is solid the tannins are round and are only perceptible on the finish. Not the blockbuster I was expecting. This still needs five years at a minimum to have the alcohol integrate more and will really start to drink well when it hits 25 years of age, with plenty of longevity from there. Approximately $100 at retail today.MB **** (4/1995): Once again, rising to the occasion. Intensely deep yet despite its youthfulness, a deep, complete, harmonious nose and flavour. Very sweet, with grip and length. Drink now-2015.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Fonseca.aspFTLOP 94 (1/2011): This flight of 1985's is stacked with an all-star team; I hope to repeat it twenty years from now when it would be like drinking the best of 1966 VP's today. Medium dark ruby with a light red rim. Fresh and floral bouquet with grenadine and anise notes. Another in a long line of under-valued Gould Campbell Vintage Ports. Rich, sumptuous and warming, with flavors of raspberry, black licorice and toffee. Medium-full weight in a lighter outer shell. This is still extremely young and vibrant at this stage. The tannins are up for the challenge, gripping and powdery and this '85 has one crazy long finish. MB ***[*]: Loaded with tannin, July 1987. Very high marks at the June 1990 tasting: deep, rich, velvety; good nose that seemed to expand richly in the glass over three hours; sweet, full-bodied, lots of fruit, life-preserving tannin and good acidity. Confirmation in 1990. A lovely deep rich wine. Drink now-2015.WA 89 (1/1989): My experience with this house is limited. One rarely sees this brand stateside. The 1985 is one of the surprises of the vintage. It has an intense nose of chocolate, berry fruit, and tar. On the palate, the wine is concentrated, powerful, and full-bodied with layers of fruit. It finishes sweeter than some of the other ports with a great deal of tannin.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/GouldCampbell.aspWS 98 (5/2003): Smells like freshly picked orchids, with loads of ripe, clean fruit. Full-bodied, medium sweet and very powerful and racy. It lasts for minutes on your palate. Yet there's a balance and class to this young Vintage Port. This is the greatest glass of Graham I have ever tasted, young or old. Best after 2014. 9,000 cases made.WA 94 (10/2002): Grapy, unformed, black raspberry liqueur and licorice-infused cassis notes leap from the glass of this opaque purple-colored wine. Sweet, plush, rich, and accessible, it is a forward, lush, concentrated effort that should drink well for two decades. While not one of Graham's most profound ports, it should evolve rapidly, providing immense crowd appeal.IWC 94 (2/2003): Saturated black-ruby. Superripe, bottomless nose of black fruits, mocha, bitter chocolate and flowers. Hugely sweet, dense and rich. A port of outstanding opulence and creamy texture; deceptively easy to taste. Substantial, sweet, spreading tannins are buried under a wave of fruit. Extremely long, fruit-driven finish.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Grahams.aspWS 84 (4/1998): A pleasant, early drinking '95, with pretty berry, spice and green tobacco aromas and flavors. Medium-ruby, brick red. Medium-bodied, with medium tannins, a sweet finish. Best after 2002.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Niepoort.aspFTLOP 95 (10/2005): I got a kick when one of the guys in our group guessed a '1931 Nacional' and I kept my nose and eyes in the glass. I was not sure if this was a VP from the 19th century or an old Colheita, as the tertiary nuances were excellent. I am glad I have some in the cellar! Raisins and butterscotch with a backdrop of hazelnuts delivered a scintillating nose that was even better than the gorgeous palate. The liquid caramel and pralines on the palate were quite fine and the finish was awesome and complex but only medium in length. Great juice!WA 92 (10/1996): One of the wines Quinta do Noval produces that was never exploited by previous importers are their Colheitas, which are essentially single vintage Tawny ports that are kept in barrel until the winery is ready to sell them. These impressive wines are one-hundred percent from the vintage shown on the bottle. Considering their ages, they are reasonably priced. The 1937 Colheita was superb, with its high alcohol amazingly well-covered by the wine's flesh and richness. The medium amber color was representative of its age. The huge nose of orange marmalade, jammy cherries, tobacco, smoke, and white chocolate was followed by a dense, rich, drier style of single vintage tawny that was full-bodied, rich, and spicy. This wine was a thrill to drink.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/QuintadoNoval.aspFTLOP 95 (10/2005): I got a kick when one of the guys in our group guessed a '1931 Nacional' and I kept my nose and eyes in the glass. I was not sure if this was a VP from the 19th century or an old Colheita, as the tertiary nuances were excellent. I am glad I have some in the cellar! Raisins and butterscotch with a backdrop of hazelnuts delivered a scintillating nose that was even better than the gorgeous palate. The liquid caramel and pralines on the palate were quite fine and the finish was awesome and complex but only medium in length. Great juice!WA 92 (10/1996): One of the wines Quinta do Noval produces that was never exploited by previous importers are their Colheitas, which are essentially single vintage Tawny ports that are kept in barrel until the winery is ready to sell them. These impressive wines are one-hundred percent from the vintage shown on the bottle. Considering their ages, they are reasonably priced. The 1937 Colheita was superb, with its high alcohol amazingly well-covered by the wine's flesh and richness. The medium amber color was representative of its age. The huge nose of orange marmalade, jammy cherries, tobacco, smoke, and white chocolate was followed by a dense, rich, drier style of single vintage tawny that was full-bodied, rich, and spicy. This wine was a thrill to drink.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/QuintadoNoval.aspMB **** (11/1997): Good note July 1987, and exceptionally good, earning equal top marks tasted blind at Christie's. In 1990 still opaque, intense, immature; classic nose, with rich, figgy, almost maltiness of very ripe grapes; very sweet, full-bodied, loaded with fruit, extract, tannin, acidity. Good length. Four good notes in the mid 1990's: showing some maturity; delicious, smooth and elegant. Now-2015.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Offley.aspMB **[**]? (3/1997): Two notes. Undeveloped but stylish at Offley's in March 1996. A year later opening up and showing well: crisp fruit, lovely flavour- delicious. Drink 2004-2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Offley.aspFTLOP 93 (2/2004): Rich ruby color that is nearly opaque. It presents notes of strawberry, molasses and others mentioned root beer which I did not really get, but thought was worth noting. This Nacional displays excellent concentration and structure, with medium to full-bodied juice. It possesses young blackberry fruit with a unique balsamic component, and shows its fine balance and some powerful tannins that will allow this wine to age for a few decades. A fine Nacional but not a classic, from an unheralded vintage that has a very youthful essence and lingering finish. MB ****? (6/1993): Rich, forthcoming, fleshy. Impressive. Now-2015.WA 89 (2/1995): A lighter-styled 1991, Quinta do Noval's offering exhibits attractive blackberry and black-raspberry, floral scents in its perfumed nose. Slightly sweet and rich, but lighter than most ports of the vintage, this stylish, restrained, understated wine should age well for 20-25 years. I do not see it ever developing into a great port.WS 87 (7/1994): Refined and well crafted. Dark purple, with fresh floral and grapey aromas and flavors. Medium body, medium sweetness and firm tannins. Best after 1999. 6,000 cases made.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/QuintadoNoval.aspMB ***[*]: Very attractive, very Noval.FTLOP 95+ (2/2005): Very dark ruby color. Along with the Niepoort from 1997, this is at the pinnacle of the vintage. It is a bit reticent at the moment with a tightly wound nose that remained in its shell. This is a huge wine with powerful and punishing tannins today that are not easy to get past in order to decipher the delicious black plum and raisin flavors that are present, yet obscured at the moment. Although I preferred the 2000 today, this is a wine for the ages and it is at a difficult stage in its evolution for accurate evaluation, as it had minimal decanting time due to the volume of bottles in this vertical. Revisit later in the decade for a clearer picture, as it currently seems to be in a dumb stage.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/QuintadoNoval.aspMB ***[*]: Very attractive, very Noval.FTLOP 95+ (2/2005): Very dark ruby color. Along with the Niepoort from 1997, this is at the pinnacle of the vintage. It is a bit reticent at the moment with a tightly wound nose that remained in its shell. This is a huge wine with powerful and punishing tannins today that are not easy to get past in order to decipher the delicious black plum and raisin flavors that are present, yet obscured at the moment. Although I preferred the 2000 today, this is a wine for the ages and it is at a difficult stage in its evolution for accurate evaluation, as it had minimal decanting time due to the volume of bottles in this vertical. Revisit later in the decade for a clearer picture, as it currently seems to be in a dumb stage.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/QuintadoNoval.aspWS 88 (4/1998): Rich and raisiny, if slightly one-dimensional. Not as good as I remember. Full-bodied, sweet and concentrated. Needs time to show what it really has. Best after 2004.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/QuintadoNoval.asphttp://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Symington.aspMB ***[*]: Strangely, tasting thisshortly after bottling in 1965 I noted it as being 'full, soft, forward'; then, later, fine but raw and unready during the late 1960s to early 1980s when it gained stature in my eyes. One, Oport-bottled in 1966 and tasted in 1979, had already lost its youthful depth and the same bottling, noted in 1990, had also lost a lot of colour, retaining very little red though lively on the palate.Dinig at Saddlers' Hall iN London in 1994, I noted it as lovely. It was certainly the best wine at the Saintsbury Club dinner in October 1996: 'perfect weight and flavour' (strangely delicious with the club's traditional Cox's Orange Pippin apples and wholemeal biscuits, perhaps less bizarre than the Americans' obsession with serving port with chocolate puddings!) Most recently, I noted a red-brown tawny; bougquet opening up beautifully; good flavour. And, of course, it had the customary Taylor backbone. Drink now-2020.WS 97 (12/1989): A big wine with superb balance, a shining example of this exuberantly fruity vintage. Deep ruby, with violets and coffee on the nose, full-bodied, with dried cherry flavors and plenty of tannin, balanced and long on the finish.WA 95 (1/1989): This house must certainly be the Latour of Portugal. Their ports are remarkably backward yet still impressive when young. Of all the vintage ports, those of Taylor need the longest time to mature and even when fully mature seem to have an inner strength and firmness that keep them going for decades. Their tawnys are also among the very best, though somewhat expensive. The 1963 is quite fabulous yet still seemingly capable of developing for another decade or more. FTLOP 93 (11/2005): This showed a bit of evolution and the color showed a medium light pinkish red color and when looking at this wine, I thought it had not been decanted long enough, although I was not certain of the vintage nor producer at the time. I guessed a '66 Taylor and was then told it was Taylor but it did not look as if it had the bottle age of a '63. This wine offered up wonderful and evolved notes of marzipan, hazelnuts and caramel. There was a bit of overt alcohol on the nose too but this bottle had only been open about 4 and a half hours when we started to drink it. The mouthfeel was soft and a bit hot from the spirity character but otherwise was quite soft and appealing. The palate delivered some soft and mature prune and raisined nuances with a touch of caramel that was sweet and delicious. The finish was marred by the overt alcohol which was a distraction to the enjoyment, but I was still able to overlook it. This was a rather mature showing for the '63 and although it was clearly a British bottling with facsimile label, it was indiscernible as to which retailer had bottled it. The long length of the finish was great but again, the alcohol was a significant distraction. I enjoyed it anyway!http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Taylor.aspMB ***[*]: Strangely, tasting thisshortly after bottling in 1965 I noted it as being 'full, soft, forward'; then, later, fine but raw and unready during the late 1960s to early 1980s when it gained stature in my eyes. One, Oport-bottled in 1966 and tasted in 1979, had already lost its youthful depth and the same bottling, noted in 1990, had also lost a lot of colour, retaining very little red though lively on the palate.Dinig at Saddlers' Hall iN London in 1994, I noted it as lovely. It was certainly the best wine at the Saintsbury Club dinner in October 1996: 'perfect weight and flavour' (strangely delicious with the club's traditional Cox's Orange Pippin apples and wholemeal biscuits, perhaps less bizarre than the Americans' obsession with serving port with chocolate puddings!) Most recently, I noted a red-brown tawny; bougquet opening up beautifully; good flavour. And, of course, it had the customary Taylor backbone. Drink now-2020.WS 97 (12/1989): A big wine with superb balance, a shining example of this exuberantly fruity vintage. Deep ruby, with violets and coffee on the nose, full-bodied, with dried cherry flavors and plenty of tannin, balanced and long on the finish.WA 95 (1/1989): This house must certainly be the Latour of Portugal. Their ports are remarkably backward yet still impressive when young. Of all the vintage ports, those of Taylor need the longest time to mature and even when fully mature seem to have an inner strength and firmness that keep them going for decades. Their tawnys are also among the very best, though somewhat expensive. The 1963 is quite fabulous yet still seemingly capable of developing for another decade or more. FTLOP 93 (11/2005): This showed a bit of evolution and the color showed a medium light pinkish red color and when looking at this wine, I thought it had not been decanted long enough, although I was not certain of the vintage nor producer at the time. I guessed a '66 Taylor and was then told it was Taylor but it did not look as if it had the bottle age of a '63. This wine offered up wonderful and evolved notes of marzipan, hazelnuts and caramel. There was a bit of overt alcohol on the nose too but this bottle had only been open about 4 and a half hours when we started to drink it. The mouthfeel was soft and a bit hot from the spirity character but otherwise was quite soft and appealing. The palate delivered some soft and mature prune and raisined nuances with a touch of caramel that was sweet and delicious. The finish was marred by the overt alcohol which was a distraction to the enjoyment, but I was still able to overlook it. This was a rather mature showing for the '63 and although it was clearly a British bottling with facsimile label, it was indiscernible as to which retailer had bottled it. The long length of the finish was great but again, the alcohol was a significant distraction. I enjoyed it anyway!http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Taylor.aspMB ****? (4/2002): Black; harmonious but closed up; concentrated but reined-in at Christie's opening tasting in 1979. By 1991, at Taylor's tercentenary tasting, deep and fairly intense; equally deep and rich nose, sweet, full-bodied, powerful, packed with all the requisite components, vigorous, great length. In 1997 a disappointing bottle. Drying out. Unimpressive in 1999. Considreable colour loss, but still lovely, warm, and luminous; fragrant bouquet; almost Graham-like sweetness and uncharacteristically soft texture. Most recently; corky nose but much better on palate, fairly powerful, forthcoming, firm, good finish. Must keep an eye on this.FTLOP 97 (11/2008): From an OWC purchased in early 1990?s. Decanted for 8 hours (we ate early) prior to consumption; poured for my extended family after our Thanksgiving meal. Not as dark as expected, but a brilliant shade of cranberry. From the moment it was decanted, this had a fabulous fragrance of fresh flowers, lavender, licorice and Sultana raisins. Once poured, it was immediately approachable, exuding power and excellent structure. Intermixed notions of black cherry and plum with prominent yet round tannins. Opened in deference to Jenny?s birth year and Taylor?s birthday, everyone loved this bottle. The aftertaste was long and profound with a very smooth finish. This particular bottle was more evolved than others I have enjoyed recently.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Taylor.aspMB ****? (4/2002): Black; harmonious but closed up; concentrated but reined-in at Christie's opening tasting in 1979. By 1991, at Taylor's tercentenary tasting, deep and fairly intense; equally deep and rich nose, sweet, full-bodied, powerful, packed with all the requisite components, vigorous, great length. In 1997 a disappointing bottle. Drying out. Unimpressive in 1999. Considreable colour loss, but still lovely, warm, and luminous; fragrant bouquet; almost Graham-like sweetness and uncharacteristically soft texture. Most recently; corky nose but much better on palate, fairly powerful, forthcoming, firm, good finish. Must keep an eye on this.FTLOP 97 (11/2008): From an OWC purchased in early 1990?s. Decanted for 8 hours (we ate early) prior to consumption; poured for my extended family after our Thanksgiving meal. Not as dark as expected, but a brilliant shade of cranberry. From the moment it was decanted, this had a fabulous fragrance of fresh flowers, lavender, licorice and Sultana raisins. Once poured, it was immediately approachable, exuding power and excellent structure. Intermixed notions of black cherry and plum with prominent yet round tannins. Opened in deference to Jenny?s birth year and Taylor?s birthday, everyone loved this bottle. The aftertaste was long and profound with a very smooth finish. This particular bottle was more evolved than others I have enjoyed recently.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Taylor.aspWA 100 (2/1995): Taylor's 1992 Vintage Port is unquestionably the greatest young port I have ever tasted. It represents the essence of what vintage port can achieve. The color is an opaque black/purple, and the nose offers up fabulously intense aromas of minerals, cassis, blackberries, licorice, and spices, as well as extraordinary purity and penetration. Yet this is still an unformed and infantile wine. If Chateau Latour made a late-harvest Cabernet Sauvignon, I suspect it might smell like this. In the mouth, the wine is out of this world, displaying layer upon layer of concentrated black fruits backed by well-integrated tannin and structure. This is a massive, magnificently rich, full-bodied port that will be far more flattering in its youth than were such Taylors as the 1983, 1977, or 1970. It possesses awesome fruit, marvelous intensity, and lavish opulence, all brilliantly well-delineated by the wine's formidable structure. This monumental 30-50 year port is a must purchase for port aficionados.! Also noteworthy is the fact that the 1992 Taylor commemorates the 300th anniversary of this firm, as evidenced by the special bottle Taylor used for this port.FTLOP 94+ (11/2007): Dark, opaque magenta. A profound spicy nose of dark fruits such as cassis, boysenberry and black cherry. Lush and dense with extraordinary extract and deeply concentrated flavors. Best known for its tercentenary anniversary, the ?92 is a great example of young Taylor?s vintage Port showing its power, brutish tannins and longevity. The finish flashes brilliant complexity even at this age and a persistent finish. Drink now through 2050. In retrospect, I believe I underrated this one.MB ***[*]: Very deep, still youthful; very sweet, jammy nose. Only tasted quickly but not very impressed. Rhone like flavour.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Taylor.aspWA 100 (2/1995): Taylor's 1992 Vintage Port is unquestionably the greatest young port I have ever tasted. It represents the essence of what vintage port can achieve. The color is an opaque black/purple, and the nose offers up fabulously intense aromas of minerals, cassis, blackberries, licorice, and spices, as well as extraordinary purity and penetration. Yet this is still an unformed and infantile wine. If Chateau Latour made a late-harvest Cabernet Sauvignon, I suspect it might smell like this. In the mouth, the wine is out of this world, displaying layer upon layer of concentrated black fruits backed by well-integrated tannin and structure. This is a massive, magnificently rich, full-bodied port that will be far more flattering in its youth than were such Taylors as the 1983, 1977, or 1970. It possesses awesome fruit, marvelous intensity, and lavish opulence, all brilliantly well-delineated by the wine's formidable structure. This monumental 30-50 year port is a must purchase for port aficionados.! Also noteworthy is the fact that the 1992 Taylor commemorates the 300th anniversary of this firm, as evidenced by the special bottle Taylor used for this port.FTLOP 94+ (11/2007): Dark, opaque magenta. A profound spicy nose of dark fruits such as cassis, boysenberry and black cherry. Lush and dense with extraordinary extract and deeply concentrated flavors. Best known for its tercentenary anniversary, the ?92 is a great example of young Taylor?s vintage Port showing its power, brutish tannins and longevity. The finish flashes brilliant complexity even at this age and a persistent finish. Drink now through 2050. In retrospect, I believe I underrated this one.MB ***[*]: Very deep, still youthful; very sweet, jammy nose. Only tasted quickly but not very impressed. Rhone like flavour.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Taylor.aspFTLOP 95+ (11/2007): Great depth of garnet that at 41 years old, is still looking much younger. I?ve always admired the 1966 Taylor. The nose is a bit tight but finally opens to offer up fresh cut carnations, raspberries and spice with a touch of spirit. A ponderous Port with multiple facets that delight the palate. Extraordinary focused fruit that captures the essence of the 1966 vintage: great longevity, structure and elegance. I could keep my nose in this Taylor all day, but it is even better in the mouth. Overall, It?s a harmonious VP and very light in style, with massive flavors and a sublime finish. Drink now through 2018.MB ***[*]: 250 pipes shipped for English bottling. Sixteen notes. Deep, rich, maturing; sweet, full-bodied, shapely, firm, good length, still tannic in the early 1990s. Losing colour and opening up in the mid-1990s, including a lovely bottle, nice weight, dry finish at Christie's wine department's Christmas dinner in 1996. Next at Christie's Tasting of the Century at Vinexpo- all 1966s, with Christopher Burr MW: substantial, mature-looking (Burr and the wine!), high-toned bouquet with touch of liquorice; sweet, lovely flavour, slightly hot finish. Most recently, surprisingly little red; rich fully evolved; good flesh and flavour. Drink now-2012.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Taylor.aspFTLOP 92+ (5/2007): I like this vintage and the Warre is certainly one that I always enjoy. Thank you James Symington for advising me to invest in 1991s, (the Dow and Graham are very fine too!). Medium dark ruby. The nose closely mirrors the palate here, both offering sweet grenadine, tar, cedar and a charred note which I actually enjoyed. Sweet and delicious, the medium-body is supported by finely knit tannins and cleansing acidity. This is put together well and always delivers. There is still some good upside potential here and I'd drink it through 2028.MB ***[*] (4/1995): I like the style of Warre - there is always a touch of elegance. Dense; silky tannic texture, long hot finish in 1993. Two notes in the mid-1990's. Lovely flavour, fruity, crisp. Good future. Last tasted April 1995. Drink 2003-2020.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Warre.aspMB ***** (4/1996): Said to have a 'typical cistus nose' i.e. resinous. Anyway, the most intensely dark of all the Symington's '94s. Very sweet, lovely flavour, perfect balance, good length. Lasted tasted April 1996. Great future. Drink 2006-2026.FTLOP 91+ (10/2006): Medium ruby and much less extracted than the big guns in the lineup. The fruit is from the newly acquired Bom Retiro Poqueno. The focused bouquet of violets and cocoa lead to a feminine style of VP that is smooth and soft. However, the tannins rush to take over late in the game. There is a touch of alcohol on the afterburner finish, but these bottles were not decanted all that long. Nice chocolate edge on the aftertaste. Best to drink circa 2020-2025 when it should show about as well as the '77 Warre does today.http://www.flickingerwines.com/growers/Warre.asp