Taylor's : Late Bottled Vintage 2020

Characteristics and tasting notes for Taylor's Late Bottled Vintage 2020

Tasting

Colour
A deep purple hue highlighted by a bright ruby rim.

Nose
The nose reveals layers of wild strawberry, blackcurrant, raspberry and plum. This fruity bouquet is enhanced by delicate floral touches, along with hints of liquorice and rockrose.

Palate
The palate is seductive, with a voluptuous texture framed by taut, linear tannins. Clean plum and damson flavours unfold with freshness towards a long, persistent finish marked by finesse and a slightly restrained elegance.

Food and wine pairings

This Late Bottled Vintage 2020 pairs perfectly with full-flavoured cheeses, particularly blue cheeses such as Stilton or Roquefort. It is also a delightful match for chocolate or red berry desserts.

Serving and cellaring

Taylor's Late Bottled Vintage 2020 is best enjoyed at a temperature of between 16 and 18°C. This wine does not require decanting and can be served straight from the bottle. Once opened, it retains its freshness and vibrancy for an extended period, and is at its best within two months of opening. The bottle should be stored upright, away from light, in a cool place at a constant temperature.

A vintage Port from the Douro's finest terroirs

The estate

Taylor's, a family-owned house founded in 1692 and a pioneer of the Late Bottled Vintage category, remains one of the great benchmarks of Port. Based in the Douro Valley, it farms Grade A vineyards, including the prestigious Quintas de Vargellas, Terra Feita and Junco, located in the Cima Corgo and the Douro Superior. Still run by the family, Taylor's stands out for its centuries-old expertise and its leading role in the production of LBV Ports, offering fortified wines of exceptional quality that are ready to drink upon release and combine power, finesse and elegance.

The vineyard

The "Late Bottled Vintage 2020" is a Port crafted from a selection of the finest wines from the vineyards owned by Taylor's, as well as from other leading estates in the Cima Corgo and Douro Superior regions. All the estates used for this cuvée hold Grade A classification, guaranteeing grapes of optimum quality. The Quintas de Vargellas, Terra Feita and Junco form the heart of this exceptional blend.

The vintage

The 2020 growing season was marked by extreme weather conditions that led to very low yields, recalling the historic 2009 and 1820 vintages with their high sugar levels. Rainfall in November and December 2019 reached 310 mm in Pinhão, replenishing the water reserves in the soil. The dry, warm dormant period led to the earliest budburst recorded in eighteen years, which took place on 3 March in Pinhão. The hot growing season benefited from regular rainfall in March and April, ensuring sufficient water reserves. The first flowering in the A-grade vineyards occurred on 4 May. Véraison began on 7 July, during the hottest July since records began in 1931, with an average temperature of 28.19°C compared with 24.7°C for the 2005-2019 period. The milder month of August helped preserve the foliage well into mid-August. Ripening accelerated thanks to the low yields and good water reserves. Rainfall from 17 to 20 August, totalling 21 mm, further aided ripening. At the end of August, a visible change in the condition of the berries was observed, particularly in the Touriga Franca. Harvesting began on 5 September at Quinta de Vargellas.

Grape varieties

Port blend.