Vintage Port Notes May 2014

Classic Port Grape Varieties, with David Guimaraens

This was a tutored tasting of varietal wines from the 1992 vintage at Taylor’s Quinta de Terra Feita. It is a logical consequence of the replanting of the late 1970s and 1980s when block planting of separate varieties began to take place en masse for the first time. The so called World Bank Scheme or PDRITM (reflecting Portugal’s love of acronymns) permitted the planting of five grape varieties, the Top Cinco: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa (now renamed Touriga Franca), Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Tinto Cão.

Taylor, Fonseca and Croft Vintage Ports 1992 - 2009

These wines followed the tutored tasting of classic grape varieties: 

Taylor 1992 ****

Much deeper in colour than any of the 1992 varietal samples (see previous posting), opaque centre, thin browning rim; rich, dark chocolate character on the nose, still quite restrained with more to give; full and sweet initially with peppery tannins rising mid-palate, leading to a bitter-sweet finish. Ready to drink though still quite youthful with plenty still to give. 17