Taylor Fladgate Very Very Old Tawny

Taylor Fladgate Very Very Old Tawny is a 750ml, 20% ABV ultra-aged tawny port drawn from some of the oldest and rarest reserves in Taylor's cellars. Presented in a hand-blown crystal decanter, this expression represents the pinnacle of Taylor Fladgate's aged tawny collection, showcasing wines that have spent extraordinary time maturing in seasoned oak casks at the firm's lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Quick Facts: ABV: 20%  |  Origin: Douro Valley, Portugal  |  Ultra-Aged Tawny (No Specific Age Statement)  |  Producer: Taylor Fladgate

Production & Heritage

Taylor Fladgate traces its origins to 1692, making it one of the oldest port houses in the Douro Valley. Now part of The Fladgate Partnership alongside Fonseca and Croft, the firm draws from its own estates — notably Quinta de Vargellas, Quinta de Terra Feita, and Quinta do Junco — using traditional Portuguese varieties including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesa, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, and Tinta Cão. Grapes are still foot-trodden in granite lagares, a painstaking technique Taylor's retains for its ability to achieve gentle yet thorough extraction. The Very Very Old Tawny is blended from parcels that have spent many decades aging in small seasoned oak casks — known as pipes — in the cooler, humid conditions of the lodges at Vila Nova de Gaia, where the slow oxidative aging concentrates and transforms the wine into something far removed from its youthful origins. Only minuscule quantities remain from these venerable reserves, making each release extremely limited.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Intensely concentrated aromas of dried fig, candied orange peel, and toasted walnut emerge first, followed by layers of old leather, sandalwood, and delicate beeswax. With time in the glass, nuances of saffron, coffee, and aged tobacco add further complexity.

Taste: The entry is silky and impossibly refined, with flavors of butterscotch, roasted hazelnut, and dried apricot unfolding across the mid-palate. As it develops, notes of dark caramel, quince paste, and a subtle spiciness reminiscent of cinnamon and clove emerge. Despite the concentrated sweetness, a persistent thread of acidity keeps the palate balanced and lively.

Finish: Extraordinarily long and layered, with lingering impressions of coffee bean, orange zest, and toasted almond that seem to evolve for minutes. The texture on the finish is satiny smooth, with a final whisper of spice and dried fruit.

How to Drink the Very Very Old Tawny

A wine of this age and complexity deserves to be savored on its own, served slightly chilled at around 14–16°C in a tulip-shaped glass that concentrates its intricate aromatics. A small splash of still water is unnecessary — the balance is already impeccable at bottling strength. While this is overwhelmingly a sipping port, its concentrated profile can anchor a Tawny Flip — shaken with a whole egg, sugar, and nutmeg — for an opulent, dessert-like serve. It also excels in a Port Negroni, where its dried-fruit richness and bitter-edged complexity replace sweet vermouth beautifully. For a minimalist approach, a simple Port & Tonic with premium tonic and an orange twist highlights the citrus and spice notes.

Best For

• Milestone celebrations such as major anniversaries or retirements
• Gifting a serious port collector or wine connoisseur
• Meditative after-dinner sipping with fine cigars
• Anchoring a curated vertical tasting of Taylor Fladgate's aged tawny range

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Very Very Old Tawny taste like? It delivers deeply concentrated flavors of butterscotch, dried fig, roasted hazelnut, and candied citrus, balanced by vibrant acidity and an extraordinarily long, spice-laced finish.

How does the Very Very Old Tawny compare to the Taylor Fladgate 40 Year? The 40 Year Old carries an average age of four decades and already shows remarkable complexity, while the Very Very Old Tawny draws from even older reserves that display greater concentration, more pronounced oxidative character, and a near-ethereal refinement that sets it apart as the top of the range.

Is the Very Very Old Tawny good for sipping neat? This port is purpose-built for contemplative neat sipping — its layered complexity and silky texture reward slow, attentive drinking and reveal new nuances with every pass of the glass.

Where is the Very Very Old Tawny made? Taylor Fladgate sources grapes from its own quintas in the Douro Valley of northern Portugal, while aging takes place in the firm's historic lodges across the river in Vila Nova de Gaia, where cooler conditions favor slow, graceful maturation.

What foods pair well with the Very Very Old Tawny? Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano offers a savory counterpoint to its sweetness; crème brûlée mirrors its caramel and vanilla tones; dark chocolate truffles complement the coffee and spice notes; roasted walnuts echo its nutty character; and blue cheese such as Stilton creates a classic sweet-savory contrast.

What sizes does the Very Very Old Tawny come in? The standard release is a 750ml crystal decanter, which serves as both a vessel and a display piece befitting the wine's stature.

Is the Very Very Old Tawny worth the price? This positions firmly as an ultra-premium, limited-production expression representing the absolute pinnacle of Taylor Fladgate's tawny reserves — its price reflects extreme rarity, decades of cellar aging, and the hand-blown crystal decanter presentation.

Why the Very Very Old Tawny?

Taylor Fladgate's Very Very Old Tawny exists in a category occupied by very few wines on earth — a blend of reserves so old that they predate many of the world's most celebrated vintages. What sets it apart is not just age but provenance: Taylor's owns its source estates, foot-treads its grapes, and has maintained unbroken continuity of cellaring since 1692. The result is a tawny port of staggering depth and refinement that is virtually impossible to replicate. For collectors and serious port enthusiasts, it stands as a singular reference point for how far the aged tawny style can be pushed.