ThePortForum.com

As part of the plan to drink JDAW’s US-located port, a tasting of Taylor, Fonseca, Warre was held on Saturday 18th April 2009 at Petite Abeille, 401 East 20th Street at First Avenue, NY 10010-7501.

Links:

• Review of evening as a whole;
• 1948 Taylor;
• 1963 Taylor;
• 1966 Taylor;
• 1966 Fonseca;
• 1966 Warre;
• 1970 Fonseca;
• 1977 Taylor;
• 1977 Fonseca;
• 1977 Warre;
• 1985 Fonseca;
• 1985 Warre;
• Planning and arrangements;
• Placemats.

This thread is to hold tasting notes and comments on the Taylor 1966.

T66 decanted 15:15. Much more translucent than the F of the same year, but still an entirely respectable brick red. However, far more astringent it might be better later in the evening rather than earlier. Re-sipping, the initial taste gives a waft of vanilla.

T66: same colour as the ’48, and nosing of cherries. Soft entry, and then heat, with a hint of vanilla. Reasonable length, but nowhere near as big or full as the Fonseca of the same year.

Reddish dark brown, murky.

Bright red currants on the nose with a hint of slight minty orange? zest.

Milk chocolate covered cranberry/blueberry mix that's full on the mouth, but has a slightly watery finish going down.

Great entry, wish it had better finish. Again, that taylor spice.

93.

Just like the 1963, this is slightly dusty on the nose, but it also has a lovely minty freshness. Very soft to taste, with ripe, dried figs, plums and raisins. Medium bodied, velvetty, and with a lovely mint / milk chocolate finish. I love the balance in this port. It's not a big burly port, but very, very nice. 94 points.

More ruby colored than the dark 48 or 63, with lots of heat in the nose and "too harsh for its age." But it has a great mouthfeel, super slick, smooth and silky. Very chocolatey, more classic of taylor in that regard, and (per Mrs Roots) dried fruits. Well integrated. 95.