2007 Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas Vinha Velha Vintage Port -- (cask sample)

[Glenn E.]

Tasted 6/9/2009 at McCarthy & Schiering in Seattle
TFP Vintage Port tasting with special guest Robert Bower

2007 Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas Vinha Velha Vintage Port (cask sample)
A name too long for the forum's thread title limits, so it must be good right?

This was a surprise bottle at the tasting, and a welcome one. VVV is something that's typically beyond my price range, but is something I've wanted to try ever since hearing about it so I was very happy to get this chance.

Oddly (at least to me), a step back in color from the 2007 Taylor Fladate. It's looks closer to the Fonseca to me. I do detect a hint of that Taylor spice and black pepper here. The fruits are less smooth than the Taylor, but also seem fresher like the grapes were just picked. Good, meaty grip. It almost feels like a blend between the Croft and the Taylor. I also noted a tiny bit of green in the finish.

[Roy Hersh]

It was really great to be able to compare and contrast this to the 2000 version of the Quinta de Vargellas Vinha Velha VP. I liked both but the 2007 is a fruit bomb today while the 2000 has calmed down a bit and would now be considered a toddler, no longer an infant.