NV Taylor's Scion Port -- 1855

[Tom D.]

N.V. Taylor Scion Port - Portugal, Douro, Porto (10/27/2011)
The Scion had the color of root beer, almost coffee, fading to yellow at the rim, just a tiny bit murky. It seemed to improve and open in the glass over an hour's time, showing intense nuttiness, celery seed, allspice, and faint apricot. Great depth and richness, perfect balance, not especially sweet or syrupy, showing almost Madeira-like acidity (but smoother) and pleasing warmth. Incredibly long, lingering on the palate for over a minute. I admit I was greedily hoping for a slightly bigger pour, since there were only 9 of us present, but we were tasting from little presentation vials rather than a full bottle, so we each got just about a half-ounce. Vintage traceable back to at least 1855, suspected to be somewhat older. (97 pts.)

[Roy Hersh]

Nice TN and thanks for posting it. One quick question .... What makes you or TFP suspect it might be somewhat older than 1855?

[Tom D.]

Roy, my understanding, based partly on comments made by Robert Bower, is that available records can establish that the casks can be demonstrated to date back at least as far as 1855, or that possession of them can be traced back to that date. There is no clear record as to their actual harvest date or history prior to 1855. There was pure speculation by some at this tasting that the casks may really date to 1847 or another earlier great vintage. There was also discussion that casks of the 1855 vintage would perhaps not have been preserved by anyone as it is not reputed to have been a particularly good or productive vintage. 1855 was also around the time of oidium problems in Portugal, and it is not unreasonable to think these casks may be not only pre-phylloxera but also pre-oidium.

NOTE: None of the above is official TFP information, and Mr. Bower did NOT declare that this wine definitely predates 1855. But he did seem fairly clear that the vintage cannot be stated with 100% certainty to be 1855 (although TFP is confident it is at least that old).

[Roy Hersh]

Was there any mention either way ... of whether the Scion was "topped off" or "refreshed" in commentary made by Robert?

[Tom D.]

No direct mention either way on this occasion, but I certainly got the impression it was not, either before or after TFO took possession.