Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port 2017

Winery Background and History

Taylor, Fladgate & Yeatman (Taylor Fladgate) is one of Portugal’s most celebrated and historic Port houses, founded in 1692 in Vila Nova de Gaia.  Over centuries, the house has developed a world-class reputation for Vintage Ports, Tawny Ports, and other fortified styles, maintaining large reserves of aged ports and investing in vineyard quality in the Douro Valley. The house’s philosophy balances tradition and precision, seeking to reflect both fruit and terroir in its top wines.

Producer and Wine Maker

The producer is Taylor Fladgate, under whose technical direction and blending team the 2017 Vintage was conceived. The winemaking team (led by David Guimaraens in recent decades) selected parcels from the estate and partner vineyards (notably Quinta de Vargellas, Quinta de Terra Feita, and Quinta do Junco) and managed fermentation, fortification, oak maturation, and blending to produce a wine consistent with Taylor’s benchmark style. 

Vineyards and Micro Climate

The grapes for the 2017 Vintage Port are drawn from Taylor’s estate vineyards and contracted plots across the Douro, including prime sites in the Douro Superior (such as Vargellas) and the Pinhão valley (Terra Feita, Junco)  . The Douro climate is continental: hot, dry summers, cold winters, and significant diurnal temperature variation, which helps preserve acidity in grapes despite concentration. Soils are primarily schist terraces, forcing deep root systems and promoting mineral and structural concentration in the fruit.

Vinification & Aging Methods

Grapes are harvested, fermented until enough sugar remains, and then fortified with grape spirit to arrest fermentation. The Port is matured ~20 months in wood (French oak vats and large casks) before bottling.  After bottling, the wine continues to age in bottle and evolves over decades. 

Tasting Notes

Inky black centre with a narrow purple rim.  The nose shows refined blackcurrant, blueberry, violet, graphite minerality, and hints of wild herbs and allspice.  On the palate it is robust and structured: black fruit (blackberry, cassis), dark chocolate, subtle tar, violet notes, firm yet polished tannins, fresh acidity, and a long, persistent finish. 

Food & Wine Pairing

Pairs beautifully with blue cheese (Stilton, Roquefort), dark chocolate, rich berry desserts, figs, walnuts, and aged hard cheeses. Also excellent as a contemplative sipping wine after a meal.

Service Methods and Temperatures

Serve between 16-18 °C. Decant away sediment—stand the bottle upright for several hours or overnight and decant gently. Use a port glass or large red wine glass. After opening, consume over one to two days to experience it before oxidation softens the edges. 

Storage and Aging Potential

This is a long-lived wine. Under ideal cellar conditions (~12-14 °C, stable humidity, darkness), it can evolve gracefully for 30-50+ years. With bottle age, tertiary aromas of tobacco, leather, dried fruit, prune, and spice should emerge.

Grape Varietals & percentage used

A blend of traditional Douro varieties including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Cão, among others. (Exact proportions are proprietary to Taylor Fladgate.)

ABV (Alcohol by Volume)

20.0 % (typical of Vintage Ports)

Scores

• Wine Enthusiast: 98 pts 

• Vinous / Neal Martin: ~98 pts 

• Wine Spectator: 97 pts 

• Various reviews (retailers) also rate it very highly (96-99 range)