2010 Taylor Fladgate Late Bottled Vintage Port
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Deep crimson. Very fancy packaging but not much on the nose. Clean, well mannered, fresh but rather inexpressive fruit. Pretty dry and chewy on the end. A sort of mild shadow of the Taylor's style. I'm not quite sure of the appeal of this wine as I'd have thought that the market for this relatively inexpensive wine would want a bit more oomph and would never have experienced a fine Taylor's vintage port proper. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Mark Squires
More reviews and scores
The 2010 Late Bottled Vintage Port is a filtered Douro blend aged in large oak vats. The first bottlings of this 2010 took place at the end of 2014 as represented here, "with more to follow during the course of 2015," said the winery. This comes in with 106 grams per liter of residual sugar and was sourced from vines averaging 30-50 years of age. Soft and easy, this is a pleasing and very tasty LBV, but it is rather straightforward, with only modest concentration and structure. Some ripe tannins do emerge with aeration and it has enough wherewithal to drink well for five days, though. Its velvety texture may be its best feature, but then there is that scrumptious fruit and the delicious finish. Granting that it was not long in bottle when tasted, it did seem curiously reticent on opening, but it also improved over several days, a very good sign. If I had a quibble, while the fruit improved and became more expressive over several days, the alcohol became more noticeable as well. This is meant for early consumption, but if you happen to hold it, it won't fall off the cliff. It won't improve either. Enjoy it for its soft, sweet and easy fruit, flavor and texture.