TAYLOR FLADGATE Vintage Port 2016 Bottle

Description

A stunning tapestry of deep purple-black glistens in the glass, highlighted by a delicate magenta edge. The nose bursts with an intense medley of woodland fruits, accented by green apple, fresh plum, and vibrant raspberry. James Suckling awards it a remarkable 100 points, calling it “the most amazing young Taylor's I have ever tasted,” with full-bodied richness and intensity. An aromatic bouquet of gumcistus and wild herbs envelops this vivid fruit core, while deeper notes of cedarwood and jasmine offer captivating complexity. Neal Martin from Vinous scores it 97 points, praising the “fine, chiseled tannins” and perfect acidity. Energized by zesty vibrancy, the berry flavours blossom, culminating in a long, captivating finish that truly embodies the Taylor legacy.

*****

JAMES SUCKLING 100 points
OMG. This is really the most amazing young Taylor's I have ever tasted. Full-bodied and lightly sweet with super power and intensity. So racy and focused. Yet this has such muscle and intensity. Needs at least eight years to show you everything it has to offer. Drink in 2025.

VINOUS 97 points
In 2016 Taylor's began picking in Vargellas on 17 September, followed by Pinhão Valley estate on 23 and 26 September. The 2016 Vintage Port has an aristocratic bouquet with tight wound aromas of blackberry, bilberry, crushed stone, black olive and a light, marine-tinged element, perhaps almost peat-like. The palate is just beautiful with fine, chiseled tannins and a perfect line of acidity. There is that almost "arching" structure one always seeks in a great Taylor’s with a gentle but insistent grip towards the finish. It is everything you really want from a Vintage Port. Production is 6,200 cases. - Neal Martin

THE WINE ADVOCATE 96 points
Drink Date: 2026 - 2070
The 2016 Vintage Port was aged for 20 months in wood with 102 grams of residual sugar. It is a little precocious in this elegant year, which is not to say there isn't a tannic backbone. Also, this did have a few hours in the glass. Still, the first and last impression is the big, beautiful fruit. It is a delicious Taylor's that is hard to resist. It also is firm on the finish and likely to evolve well. Complexity will come in time. - Reviewed by: Mark Squires

DECANTER 96 points
Tasted by: Richard Mayson
(at Decanter Magazine's December 2018 issue Port 2016 vintage report, 30 May 2018) Part of Port 2016: Vintage report and top releases
Drinking Window: 2030 - 2055
Dense and heady on the nose with an attractive green, leafy edge. Sweet and pump on the palate with lovely bright cherry and damson fruit – nicely defined but not as big as some. Firm, tight-knit tannins on a long, linear finish which shows off the lovely purity of fruit. 6,500 cases in total.

JANCIS ROBINSON 18 points
Dark crimson but without the blueish purple of the Grahams. Tight, refined nose – rather claret-like. Not as obviously sweet as some. Restrained aromatically: backward with sharp, linear blackcurrant and violet notes. This tastes like a somewhat shouty, scratchy baby at the moment – which is no criticism of a wine designed to age as long as a vintage port. But then there are masses of sweet fruit with liquorice surrounded in a scratchy skein of tannins and acidity. (JR)