For The Love Of Port

When I first had this as a cask sample back in May, this was hot and spirity and quite sweet with a dry finish. It had improved significantly by the time I had it again in Oct. while visiting The Fladgate Partnership and it showed a lot more symmetry. Dark garnet and nearly opaque. I opened this particular bottle and it was thin, tight and showed little. My brother was way underwhelmed, but I told him to be patient. After 12 hours of decanting, this was a totally different young Port then what he tried yesterday just after opening. A full day later it really came into its own with fresh
scents of lavender, mocha and ripe, dark cherries. The ’05 Vargellas is no shy flower with medium-full weight, crème de cassis and blackberry fruit that shows tasty juice with a touch of black licorice on the prolonged finish. Early on, the tannins were quite mild but three days in, this offered far more powerful tannins that hinted at where the Vargellas will be heading. Drink 2012-2035

Decanter

Despite the arid summer of 2005, this wine has developed gracefully and shows the characteristic floral scent of wines from Vargellas. Retaining a youthful hue, it’s still restrained on the nose with gentle cherry and spice. Soft, minty ripeness initially on the palate with firm tannins rising to a fresh, balanced finish with well-defined berry fruit. Good value for drinking now and any time over the next decade.

Huon Hooke

Dense purple, youthful colour. Powerful aromas and fresh floral fruit and spirit aromas. Lush fruit and tannins, lots of spirit, giving a clean licorice finish. Long, warming aftertaste.

Jamie Goode

Vivid, intense, sweet fruit nose with some bold, spicy, herby notes. The palate is lush and pure with lovely vibrant fruit and good structure.

Vinhulen.dk

Taylors Quinta Vargellas vintage 2005 är en riktig läckerbit. Ungt vin är ju alltid spännande att smaka. Färgen är mörkt rödlila, kanske inte riktigt så lila som förväntat. Doften är extremt söt och påminner mycket om ett gammaldags karamellkokeri där aromerna fyller rummet åt alla håll. Det är blommor och bär i en komposition med en lätt skarp pepprig ton. Smaken är ganska kärv. Fylld med nyanser av mint, svarta vinbär, choklad. Mycket vinös och saftig i stilen med en kraftig tanninstruktur utan att bli aggressiv. Kommer att utvecklas på medellång sikt fram till 2025.

Wine & Spirits Magazine

Revista de Vinhos

Refined on the nose, with fruit and pronounced vegetal notes complemented by mineral nuances. Rich and beautifully structured on the palate, this is a luxurious wine, seamless and polished, already capable of delivering an excellent drinking experience.

Jancis Robinson

This is the vintage that is giving way to the 2008 (also described here) in the Waitrose supply chain. Like the 2008, the cork was extremely difficult to extract and, in this case, broke in two. Ruby colour with paleness at the extreme rim. The wine is considerably mellower and riper than the 2008 but has the same headiness, in this case a certain nuttiness (walnuts?) rather than herbiness. Very lively and pure with a strong liquorice note on the palate. Single-quinta vintage ports must be one of the world's serious wine bargains.

Vivino

(742 bedømmelser, 05-10-2026)