ABV: 20%
Size: 75cl
Country: Portugal
Description
Taylor’s 20 Year Old Tawny Port is an exceptional showcase of complexity and age, boasting a stellar 95 points from James Suckling, who praises its allure with notes of dried berries, light chocolate, and nuts, finishing with a delightful hint of honey. Decanter awards it 94 points, highlighting a fine acid line and fragrant orange blossom that enhance the fig, cherry, and plum flavors, beautifully supported by walnut and dried mint. Jancis Robinson scores it 17 points, noting its deep tawny colour and inviting aromas of dried figs and caramelized orange peel. With a powerful yet balanced character, this tawny Port offers rich, layered flavors that ensure a satisfying indulgence. Ideal for enjoyment now or over the next few years.
*****
Taylor’s is one of the most highly respected producers of aged tawny Port wines. 20 Year Old Tawny Port is fully matured in seasoned oak casks each holding about 630 litres of wine. Here, over many years of ageing, the Port wine gradually takes on its characteristic amber ‘tawny’ colour, slowly developing the complex mellow flavours and the smooth luscious palate which are the hallmarks of this style of port.
Taylor’s blends its magnificent 20 year old tawny Ports from its extensive reserves of old cask aged Ports matured in the firm’s cool and tranquil cellars (known as ‘lodges’) in Oporto on Portugal’s Atlantic coast.
In the 20 Year Old tawny, the fruit has mellowed further than in the 10 Year Old, and the spicy, nutty aromas of ageing are more powerful and intense.
JAMES SUCKLING 95 points
A gorgeous 20-year-old with dried berries, light chocolate and nuts. Hints of honey. Medium body. Medium sweet. Flavorful finish yet light toffee and caramel at the end. Drink now.
DECANTER 94 points
Tasted by: Ines Salpico
(at Vinhos & Sabores, Lisbon, 21 Oct 2024) Part of Twenty Year Old Tawny Port: Tawny at its apex?
Drinking Window: 2024 - 2027
A fine acid line, fragrant orange blossom and lifted mahogany guide the character of this tawny through the palate, supporting the fig, cherry and plum fruit with ease against a backdrop of walnut, hazelnut, dried mint and sage. Dusty layer of vanilla, star anise and clove.
JANCIS ROBINSON 17 points
Deep tawny colour. Open and inviting aromas of dried figs, walnuts and bitter toffee, caramelised bitter-orange peel like really dark marmalade. Powerful and warming, the alcohol still fully in evidence but not overwhelming the lovely complex and sweet flavours of dried fruits and a touch of baking spice. More mellow than some 20 Year Olds. Firm, gently chewy. A complete and satisfying 20 Year Old, with depth and length. Serve slightly chilled to get the best balance of fruit and alcohol. (JH)
THE WINE ADVOCATE 93 points
Reviewed by: Mark Squires
Drink Date: 2015 - 2045
The NV 20 Year Old Tawny Port was bottled in 2015 and comes in at 111 grams per liter of residual sugar. On first taste, this was simply Taylor: big, concentrated and serious. It was all that and a bag of chips, but over a couple of day it also demonstrated far more elegance. It seemed arguably better balanced than the 10 year old Tawny this issue. Simply filling the mouth on first taste, this shows fine complexity for its age and it does everything else rather brilliantly. Succulent and inviting, it finishes with waves of concentrated flavors. The fruit remains lifted and and it has a bright, transparent feel. It is hard to resist, often seeming like a bit of an overachiever. It's not the best tawny Taylor's submitted this issue, but it might be the best intersection of quality and price.
