1966 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port

[Tom D.]

3/25/2010. Decanted 5 hours, plus 4 hours in the glass. Showing a bit more tired and toffee-like color than I was expecting. This did hint at an intriguing transitional mix of youthful fruit and more mature tawny elements. Unfortunately, the alcohol really never came into balance, creating a persistent, overpowering, and very volatile paint thinner impression, never giving this a chance to show anything like the elegance or subtlety of our previous bottle. This was a John Harvey (Bristol, UK) bottling. This bottle appeared in generally good condition, fill into the neck, but upon removing the capsule there was very slight wine staining on the top of the cork. This would be in the low 80's if I had to score. Looking forward to a better showing next time.

[Glenn E.]

Tom,

It sounds like you got a bad bottle, and given your TN I'd say it sounds like it might have been ever so slightly heat damaged. I have had the 1966 Taylor before and found it beautiful, lightly spicy, and with many years left ahead of it. I wasn't giving ratings at the time, but based on my notes I suspect I would have been in the low to mid 90s.

I hope your next bottle is better!

[Tom D.]

Glenn,

That was my experience with our first bottle, solid mid-90 points, exceptional. So this one was disappointing. I'm sure you're right this was more than simple bottle variation -- that's why I gave no "official" score.

On the bright side, hopefully we're due for another great bottle next time...

Cheers!