1975 Taylor Fladgate, A Port for the Ages! A 50-Yr. Old MASTERPIECE

WHY BUY: Taylor's makes a limited release each year of a Single Harvest Port made 50 years previously. This is the ninth in the series: the 1975 Single Harvest. And folks, let me tell you — the year of bell-bottoms, shag carpets, and avocado-colored toasters has produced an extraordinary Port, a Port for the history books, truly: a wine of aromatic power and unstoppable concentration that wowed and surprised us from start to finish — above all, for delivering such incredible elegance and refinement amid all that richness and intensity. It’s little wonder that Taylor has been at the peak of the port world for 333 years. An absolute must-have for any wine lover.

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: Jancis Robinson, in a rare and near-perfect review, called it "complex and inviting" with "so many layers of flavour" and praising its "excellent freshness to balance all those rich dried-fruit flavours." She noted the "gently chewy texture" that provides "a perfect foil to the sweetness" and declared it "a wine to sip slowly and savour every mouthful." Simon Field, a regular contributor to World of Fine Wine and a Port expert, was equally impressed: "This cask-aged Tawny is certainly impressive, its character marked by purity and precision — quite a feat for a wine that has rested in wood for so long."

OUR TASTING NOTES: What does five decades in seasoned oak give you? A long and winding journey of an experience. The nose sends up notes of wild honey and treacle, then edges into more complex territory with tea leaf and red cherry compote, along with those distinctive cedary cigar box aromas that speak to serious aging. There's an unexpected freshness here — wild rosemary, thyme, even a kiss of fresh mint —that keeps things lively and vivid, in spite of all that concentrated richness. On the palate, notes of blood orange marmalade and dried figs emerge, while a vein of bright acidity keeps everything in perfect balance. And all the while, wave after wave of rich, controlled lusciousness. The finish will surprise you. It's bright, lean, fresh, and harmonious, and far, far from the stodginess that can sometimes accompany old age in a fortified wine.

THE STORY: Taylor Fladgate's story dates all the way back to 1692, making it one of the oldest Port houses still in operation and quite possibly the most obsessive when it comes to quality. Family-managed since its foundation, they've remained entirely dedicated to Port production for over three centuries, building one of the most extensive reserves of very old cask-aged Port in the world. Their decision to release a Single Harvest Port from exactly 50 years prior each year is both a testament to their incredible cellar reserves and their confidence in their aging process. This 1975 vintage survived a challenging growing season — a wet winter followed by a bone-dry summer that left grapes far from ripe by mid-September — until three inches of rain in the last four days of September, followed by warm, sunny weather, allowed perfect maturation just in time for the October 6th harvest.

SERVING SUGGESTION: This is ready to drink now and doesn't require decanting. Serve slightly chilled, between 54-61°F, and here's the beautiful part: once opened, it will maintain its freshness and energy for up to two months.

WHAT TO PAIR IT WITH: Break out your most exceptional desserts. It’s particularly marvelous in the company of a crème brûlée or a sacher torte. Of course, you can’t go wrong with making it the centerpiece of your final course, along with, perhaps, some dried fruits and toasted nuts.

FUN FACT: Taylor's is the only Port producer that has remained a family-run entity throughout its history.

OUR GUARANTEE: As always, we only buy and source directly from the estate, so rest assured: your Port will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Order yours today!