NV Taylor's Scion Port -- 1855

[Bill Spohn]

Scion – this remarkable wine from 1855 or a bit older somehow survived in a couple of barrels until Taylors bought it and bottled it after the family that owned it had all expired. Done up in fancy packaging for the princely price of $3,500 a bottle, this was certainly a delight to have the opportunity to taste. It raised all sorts of questions about whether the barrels had been topped over the decades, and if so, with what, but there were no answers in the booklet supplied with the wine.

A black walnut nose, exceptionally complex, the wine a darker walnut sort of colour as well, with amber edges. The nose was fairly hot and quite intense with hints of dried fruits and spice (we had a short discussion of whether it was more like nutmeg, which I favoured, or allspice as my friend propounded). It developed a nose that I would liken to aged single malt whiskies with more vanilla and whisky notes coming out as it aired. I left this as long as I could before finishing it, just to see what it would do, but became nervous as the people to my right and left began eying my glass with poorly concealed larcenous intent, they having intemperately finished their own aliquots.

We then paused for a bit of food (accompanied, rather unnecessarily, at least for our blood alcohol level) by a magnum of dry Portuguese wine).

After fortifying ourselves (in both senses) we gamely threw ourselves once more into the affray with the vintage Ports.

This tasting note is one of several related tasting notes. Click [here] to see the original note in context.