Deep purple, fading only slightly. The nose is quite elegant: not very grapy, with rounded fruits. In the mouth, immediately sweet. Again, rounded fruits: black cherries, perhaps. The tannins are there but are supportive rather assertive. The acidity is not pronounced. There is a dryness to the finish but I think this more tannin-driven. Of the two ’17s, I preferred the Taylor: this is just a little to shy at the moment for my tastes.
Tasted at: David Guimaraens: Taylor’s and Fonseca Ports Virtual Tasting
Date: 6th November 2020
Rated*: P+
http://www.jacob-head.com/port/records/ ... ca_2017_VP
* A Note on Ratings
My rating system attempts to answer the question “is this a good Port?” one of three ways: N—No; P—Possibly; or C—Certainly. Ports generally are rated against others of their category. Therefore, a Ruby Port which I rate as C for Certainly good, might not be as good as a Vintage Port which receives the same rating. I sometimes modify my rating with a plus or minus indicating that the Port is better or worse than might be expected for this category.
