First taste: Taylor’s Single Harvest Port 1970

Taylor’s Single Harvest 1970 Port

The 7th Taylor’s Single Harvest Port to be released on its 50th birthday hails from a generally declared year.  Like the 1966 (also a generally declared year), it is a powerful Colheita Tawny Port. 

Having aged in wood for 50 years, it was interesting to see the vintage power through and, tasting it alongside Kopke Colheitas from 1980, 1960 and 1940, interesting also to see house style play out. Taylor’s is the denser style (notes on the Kopke Colheitas to follow).  As you can see, all were tasted from test tube (with a couple of White Colheita Ports from Kopke in the mix in case you were wondering).

Kopke Colheita Ports, with Taylor’s Single Harvest 1970 to the far right

Taylor’s Vintage Report

The 1970 vintage experienced higher than average rainfall in October and March. Spring was very dry, followed by rain in May and June. From July to October there was almost no rain, with perfect conditions during the harvest.

Blended by David Guimaraens from casks aged in Vila Nova de Gaia, it is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, Tinta Cão & Tinta Amarela (among other grapes, I expect).

Taylor’s Single Harvest Port 1970

Taylor’s Single Harvest 1970

The nose is a spice-fest, sweet, a touch dusty – spice dust? – with cinnamon and darker nutmeg and black cardamom.  Lifted, boozy Grand Marnier orange essence/orange peel and cognac notes follow through in the mouth, lending vigour to the dense, rounded, mouth-filling dried fig and apricot palate, with hints of beeswax, cedar and dusty wood (not unattractive, more patina of age).  Coming (charging) through, those spicy black cardamom and Grand Marnier rise, take hold and linger on the spicy finish.  With its ballast of rich dried fruit, Taylor’s Single Harvest 1970 is a bold, full-bodied Tawny Colheita.  Most satisfying in its amplitude. RRP £220, though some quite varied pricing out there (more on wine-searcher) – £178.77 at VinQuinn, £199.00 at Cadman Fine Wines, £220.00 at Averys.

Reviews of previous vintages of Taylor’s Single Harvest Port

Click on the links below for my reviews of Taylor’s Single Harvest 1970 Port’s predecessors (and an ultra-limited edition 1863 Very Old Tawny Port):

Taylor’s Single Harvest 1969

Taylor’s Single Harvest 1968

Taylor’s Single Harvest 1967

Taylor’s Single Harvest 1966

Taylor’s Single Harvest 1965

Taylor’s Single Harvest 1964

Taylor’s Single Harvest 1863