Gary Westby, Old, Rare & Champagne buyer at K&L
This fun, end-of-week tasting somehow managed to link my birth year (represented by a '55 Port) with my introduction to California wine, i.e., my "birth" as a California wine lover. My first visit to Napa as an undergrad in 1976 took us to Louis Martini around the time the '75 Cab in this tasting was released. On the whole these wines showed well, and most had some historic interest. I especially enjoyed the '55 Taylor, from magnum, and not only due to the fact that I successfully guessed what it was (it was blind on the tasting sheet, and the label on the bottle was impossible to discern anything from). From just smelling the wine from Anh Thu's glass when I arrived, I guessed "Taylor, from '63 or earlier." Looks like I learned something on my For the Love of Port trip to Portugal this year with FTLOP's Roy Hersh.
'55 Taylor Port
This was a wonderfully satisfying, mature Port to end the week on. I've only had a few '55 Ports to date, and had never tasted the '55 Taylor before. It was remarkably harmonious, with great balance and depth, and largely mellowed tannins, but still plenty of structure that will carry it for decades yet to come. It was reminiscent for me of the '63 Taylor, which is why I was able to pick it out by the nose alone. Because the label was completely eroded, Gary had no idea who the producer was or any clue about the vintage until he pulled the cork, very carefully, with an ah-so, resulting in his being able to make out the bottom 2/3s of the cork, which were clearly stamped "Taylor" and "1955." I always enjoy meeting vinous fellow children of my birth year, and this one was definitely a treat.
- 1955 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto
From magnum - light medium brown color with ruby lights and clear meniscus; VA, maple syrup, ginger cake, vanilla, dates nose, but drier than Graham, with lovely sandalwood edge; rich, sweet, ginger cake, maple syrup, sweet coffee, dates, brazil nut, almond palate, harmonious, with balance and depth; long finish 96+ pts. (this was poured as a mystery Port, and I guessed "Taylor, 1963 or earlier") (96 pts.)
