After every vintage, a reserve of very concentrated and powerful red ports from Taylor's own vineyards is laid aside to age in oak casks. Those that have reached their peak after forty years are then blended together for balance and finesse and to ensure consistency of quality and style. The port is made from a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Cao & Tinta Amarela. Unlike most spirits, whose quality and characteristics do not vary to a great extent from year to year, wines from different harvests do vary in character and concentration. Wines from some harvests also age more quickly than others. To ensure continuity of quality and style and uniform ageing characteristics, it is often necessary to blend across several vintages, rather than within the wines of a given year. This is why the age claim of the old tawnies refers to an apparent age, attested to by an independent government body, the Port Wine Institute and not to a minimum age as in the case, for example, of Scotch Whisky. "It is my opinion that Taylor's tawny ports are the best of this type. When tasted against other tawnies, they all exhibit more aromatic personalities, greater fruit ripeness and a wonderful sweetness and length." - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate (Taylor's 40 Year Old Tawny Port) Presented in a Taylors 40 Year Old Branded Box. |
