Christmas is better with Port

Christmas is better with Port

All too often when sat around the table with a glass of port in hand the conversation turns to the age old question, ‘why don’t we drink more Port?’ The truth is, when you go to buy some and find yourself faced with the myriad of styles, houses and prices it becomes ‘the paradox of choice’; it’s too hard to make a decision, so you decide to do nothing.

This is a crying shame as Christmas is simply better with Port.

So to make your life easier – yes, this was a selfless act – we sat down with 9 different samples to help us hand select the very best examples specifically for the festive period. Both the two offerings below stood out by a country mile and are sufficiently different in style and purpose to merit equal attention.

First, a vintage port: if you need to take something to the in-laws, your parents are coming over or you fancy just sitting back and piling into the stilton then Taylor’s 1985 is the one for you. This blew us away in the tasting and shone like a beacon. Beautifully mature, elegant and drinking superbly with a wonderful balance of powerful fruit and featherlight texture.

Second, a tawny port: a perfect match with your Christmas pudding but equally enjoyable with chocolate (and perhaps a Bond movie) – or if you just feel like having a little tipple at elevenses – then the 20yr-old tawny from Taylor’s will knock your Christmas stockings off. Dried fruit, Christmas spice and refined refreshment in a glass, best enjoyed from the fridge.

Special Price:

Taylor's 1985 for 2 c/s plus £265 IB

Taylor's 20 YO Tawny for 2 c/s plus £150 IB

BUY one vintage and one tawny and get the special price

Colour	Vint.	Wine	Size	Status	Cs	Btls	Price	Per	Score	Basket
Red	1985	Taylor	btls	IB	14	0	£ 550	cs	95 (NM)	Add

A very youthful deep garnet core with ruby rim. This has a much more precocious nose than the -83 with ripe blackberry, raspberry coulis, black olives and a certain minerality to it. Very fresh and well defined, the palate is full-bodied, certainly more structured and complex than the previous two declarations. Notes of black cherry, fig, raisin with a hint of savoury fruit towards the finish that has great length and refinement.
95 Points, Neal Martin

Colour	Wine	Size	Status	Cs	Btls	Price	Per	Basket
Red	Taylor 20 YO Tawny	btls	DP	1	9	£ 320	cs	Add
Red	Taylor 20 YO Tawny	btls	IB	19	0	£ 320	cs	Add
Red	Taylor 20 YO Tawny	hlvs	IB	6	0	£ 280	cs	Add

Pale amber-tawny with a broad amber rim; very fine, delicate, honey and dried fruit character, complex, citrus (candied peel) too; lovely delicate flavour, still very fresh and with real poise, just as a 20 Year Old should be, still a vestige of tannin but long, velvety and overall very fresh. Near perfect balance.
Richard Mayson (wine writer and an eminent authority on Port)

[Don't forget your Champagne! BI Recommends Pol Roger]

Available in 2 weeks
Offer subject to final confirmation. E&OE