20 Year Old Tawny Port by Taylor Fladgate

[Glenn E.]

A Celebration of Port at the Salish Lodge with guest host Adrian Bridge
March 30, 2011

Taylor Fladgate 20-yr old Tawny Port

The tawny stood out in the lineup even moreso than the Croft Pink simply because the Pink looked to be deliberately different while the tawny was clearly related to the rubies yet obviously not the same. Most at my table liked the 20-yr old better than the other Ports and were curious about what made it different.

Typical 20-yr old tawny color, with pleasant vanilla and caramel notes on the nose. Some faint confectioner's sugar and a bit of alcohol were also present. In the mouth it was soft and velvety, full of body, and complex. Vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch led the way with some soft dried apricots and meyer lemon providing balance. I didn't think it paired well with the diver scallops, but that was the fault of the scallops which were a little bit fishy to start with and which was emphasized by the Port. I saved half a glass and it paired very well with the Port Braised Short Ribs - even better than the 2005 LBV.

Score: 91 points. Easily my favorite of the dinner, but that should come as no surprise to anyone.