Taylor's Port Wine

Taylor’s was founded in 1692 by Job Bearsley, making it one of the oldest continuously operating port houses in Portugal. The house has been family-owned throughout its history and today is part of the Fladgate Partnership alongside Fonseca and Croft. Taylor’s owns some of the finest quinta land in the Douro, including Quinta de Vargellas, which has been producing single quinta vintages since 1893.

Taylor’s vintage port is produced only in years when the quality of the harvest meets the house’s exacting standards. The wine is aged in large oak vats for two years before bottling, then continues to develop in bottle for decades. Taylor’s vintage declarations are consistently rated among the finest produced in the Douro, receiving exceptional scores from international critics across every declared year. One of the most celebrated recent releases is notable as the first port wine ever taken into space. Taylor’s vintage ports reward patience, with the finest examples continuing to develop in bottle for twenty years or more.

Taylor’s LBV is the most versatile everyday port in the range. It is ready to drink on release with no decanting required, smooth and rich with dark berry fruit. For something lighter, Taylor’s Chip Dry White Port is an excellent aperitif served over ice with a slice of lemon, in the style popular in Portugal. The Reserve Mini Port is a good option for those who want a single glass without opening a full bottle.

Taylor’s produces aged tawny in four expressions: 10 Year Old, 20 Year Old, 30 Year Old and the exceptional Golden Age 50 Year Old. Each is a blend of wines from multiple harvests, with the age statement indicating the average age of the wines in the blend. The 10 Year Old shows dried fruit and gentle nuttiness; the 20 Year Old adds orange peel and roasted almond character; the 30 Year Old is markedly more complex with a long, spiced finish; the 50 Year Old is a rare collector’s wine with extraordinary concentration and depth. Taylor’s also produces the Historical Collection expressions, including The Globe and The Mallet Reserve Tawny, which sit alongside the age-statement range.

For Christmas Day itself, the 10 or 20 Year Old Tawny served slightly cool is the most versatile choice, working well alongside the cheese board, Christmas pudding and mince pies. If you are opening something special, a Taylor’s single quinta vintage or declared vintage port alongside a Stilton is hard to beat. For a gift to take to someone else’s Christmas, the LBV is reliable and well-priced, while the 20 Year Old Tawny in its branded gift tube makes a more premium impression. The miniature gift set is the best option for a stocking filler or Secret Santa.

Taylor’s is one of the most gift-friendly port houses available, with presentation across the range designed with giving in mind. For an entry-level gift, the LBV or the miniature tasting set are both reliable choices that suit most recipients. The 10 or 20 Year Old Tawny makes a handsome and distinctive present for a birthday, retirement or Christmas. For a more significant occasion, the 30 Year Old Tawny or a single quinta vintage port sits at the premium end without reaching collector territory. Engraving is available on selected Taylor’s bottles for a gift that can be kept long after the port is gone.