1970 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port

The 1970 Taylor's Vintage Port has a tight nose, youthful with notes of liquorice, raisin, boot-polish and lemongrass. It is well defined and displays a little more intensity than the 1963. The palate is full-bodied with firm tannins, very cohesive with superb ripeness: wild strawberry, lemongrass, smoke and dates with an incredibly persistent finish. There is an effortlessness to this Port. It has such weight on the finish that it will cruise past another two decades in bottle. (NM)

Bricky garnet. Slighly darker fruit and some leather too, more savoury and slightly less freshness and not as lifted as the Graham’s. More raisin and Christmas cake sweetness and spice with a velvety texture. Luscious but still quite a bit of fimness. Full of fruit density still and tremendous length. (JH)

A deep garnet core with a faded brick rim. The nose is still tight, youthful with notes of liquorices, raisin, boot-polish and a little lemongrass. Again, very well defined and a little more intensity than the -63. The palate is full-bodied with firm tannins, very cohesive with superb ripeness: wild strawberry, lemongrass, smoke and dates with an incredibly long, persistent finish. There is an effortless nature to this port and having encountered this several times, this is undoubtedly the best bottle I have had. It has such weight on the finish that it will cruise past another 20-25 years in bottle. It just has the edge over the great -77. (NM)