TAYLOR FLADGATE
DOURO, PORTUGAL 1896
THE HEADLINE: A Taylor Fladgate Port aged 125 years in cask, from an edition of just 1,700 bottles, plus a 1977 Tawny and a white Port blended with lots from 1896.
WHY BUY: Taylor Fladgate's 1896 Single Harvest Port was in oak before the Wright Bros. got off the ground, and only 1,700 bottles (of hand-blown Scottish crystal) were made. A port like this comes along “only a handful of times in a generation,” noted Taylor Fladgate’s general manager. Alongside this rarer-than-rare collectible come the 1977 Single Harvest Tawny, which spent nearly fifty years in cask, and a VVOP White Port, a blend over 80 years old that includes white Port from as far back as 1896.
OUR TASTING NOTES: The 1896 is the one to sit with. And sit with. And sit with. It pours mahogany with a beguiling olive-green rim, and the nose takes its time, opening like a series of drawers: espresso and anise first, then cedar shavings, dried rose petals, a breath of eucalyptus, a little black pepper and vanilla. On the palate it’s round and velvety and stunning, and as dense and concentrated as any Port you’ve ever tasted, yet there’s that wonderful thread of acidity that keeps it almost nervy, and the finish goes on and on and on, until you convince yourself it might never actually end. The 1977 is a textbook expression of how to handle sweetness, it’s that deftly (and marvelously) done; we love its subtle, striking perfume and the way it becomes dimensional as it unfurls, with a distinctive note of dried orange on the finish. The VVOP White is an aromatic marvel, with dried apricot, almond biscotti, and wild lavender on the nose. The palate takes these associations and deepens them, but also adds to them, sending up notes of roasted hazelnut, saffron, and honeycomb. And running through all of this is a wonderful thread of salinity that works to counteract the natural sweetness.
THE DECANTERS: The 1896 comes in a hand-blown Scottish crystal decanter with a heavy base and a long, narrow neck, and because each is individually finished, no two are alike. It’s housed in a cherrywood presentation case with a certificate of authenticity signed by Taylor’s Managing Director and a booklet on the events of 1896. As for the VVOP White, it comes in a bespoke crystal decanter, which was developed with the Portuguese luxury house Vista Alegre, and is housed in a handsome wooden case.
THE STORY: 1896 was the year of the first X-ray, the first modern Olympics, and the premiere of La Bohème. In the Douro, it was also hot. August brought one of the worst heat waves Europe had recorded, blamed for deaths as far north as Königsberg, and the harvest began early, in September. And the wines? They were exceptionally powerful and deeply colored. And Taylor’s, which that year had acquired its famed Quinta de Vargellas, found them to be more than just impressive and delicious when they tasted them fifty years later; they seemed destined for an unusually long life. The last two pipes stayed in the cellars at Vila Nova de Gaia for another quarter of a century. After 125 years in wood, the family decided to release them. But only 1,700 bottles: no more than that. A wine like this comes along, in the words of Managing Director Adrian Bridge, “only a handful of times in a generation.”
WHAT TO PAIR THEM WITH: The Tawnies are built for dessert, or a plate of dried fruit and toasted nuts. Think crème brûlée for the 1977 (and serve the Port ever-so-slightly chilled). The VVOP White is brilliant in the company of salted almonds or a nice, ripened wedge of aged Comté. As for the 1896: it needs nothing at all beside it.
FUN FACT: Queen Victoria reigned for 63 years. The 1896 spent almost twice that length of time in cask.
OUR GUARANTEE: As always, we only buy and source directly from the estate to ensure that your wines arrive with pristine provenance. Quantities of the 1896 are scanter than scant, so secure yours today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Spring 2027. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer not valid in KS, KY, MI, NY, OK & TN. This offer will expire on Thursday, November 12th, 2026.