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Mentzendorff & Co., importers of the fine products of the The Fladgate Partnership, presented the 2009 declarations at Quo Vadis in Soho, 10:00 to 16:30 Friday 6th May 2011.

• Review of the event as a whole;
• 2009 Taylor;
• 2007 Taylor;
• 2003 Taylor;
• 2000 Taylor;
• 2009 Taylor Quinta de Vargellas Vinha Velha;
• 2007 Taylor Quinta de Vargellas Vinha Velha;
• 2004 Taylor Quinta de Vargellas Vinha Velha;
• 2000 Taylor Quinta de Vargellas Vinha Velha;
• 2009 Fonseca;
• 2007 Fonseca;
• 2003 Fonseca;
• 2000 Fonseca;
• 2009 Croft;
• 2007 Croft;
• 2003 Croft;
• 2000 Croft;
• 2009 Skeffington;
• 2007 Skeffington;
• 2003 Skeffington.

A blend of ports from Vargellas and Terra Feita with some wines from Junco. Magenta coloured. An amazing nose, full of blueberries and lavender. Very smooth in texture, medium bodied even at this stage of life. Surprisingly refined for Taylor - less power and more finesse than I would have expected. Beautiful floral tones, a fantastic balance, intense levels of perfect fruit and tannins which are ripe and rounded make this an amazing port on the palate. The aftertaste is restrained and the finish slow to develop but eventually delivers a modest 50% cocoa chocolate and sour cherry combination that is extremely enjoyable. This is a beautiful and extremely impressive port and will certainly be one of the shippers I buy from this vintage. 93-95

This is an impressive port.

It's so refined, so perfectly balanced.

Nose of blueberries and that young violet and lavender port nose.

Loads of red and blackberries that fills out the palate the medium body but then the silky tannins sneak up and fleshes out the body giving this weight. It's got a slight dusty aftertaste that gets integrated with some more red fruit that lingers around all the right spots on the palate.

94-96.

My favorite 09