80y old Tawny Ports

 Only two years ago, the Port wine regulations were amended to permit the production of 50-year-old Tawny Ports, among other changes. In January of this year, the Port Wine Institute's board of directors signed Circular No. 1/2025, which permits the production of 80-year-old Tawny Ports. Previously, these old ports were known as 'very very old tawny ports'. Personally, I never liked this name, as although they had to be ...

All of the tasting notes on tastingbook.com of the wine critic mentioned above come from press releases from wine importers or wineries and can also be found on the critic’s own website, which can be easily accessed by clicking the link on the right.

Novidades in the Port world:

50 year old Tawny and 50 year old White Port

Very little in this world is as consistent as Port regulations. The categories are extremely steady and new ...

Port’s Holy Grail: Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage Port 

Despite some highs and lows in its history, Quinta do Noval holds a special place in the heart and mind of Port lovers worldwide. And although the Quinta does produce amazing Colheita Ports, structured and balanced Douro Reds as well as fantastic Vintage Ports the prestigious Noval Nacional Vintage Port stands above them all.

A quick Journey through time: in the early 1930s most E...

Taylor’s limited edition Vintage Port Vargellas Vinha Velha

There is little visual difference between the labels of the Vinha Velha limited edition- and the Single Quinta Vintage Port Vargellas from Fladgate’s Flagship brand Taylor. By definition a Single Quinta Vintage Port can only contain grapes from the Quinta (Portuguese for estate) and the limited edition Vintage Port Vargellas Vinha Velha only receives grapes from very selected spots...

Born in one of the greatest Vintage Port years - 1970, Axel succeeded in becoming European Champion in 100m Backstroke during his early years. He graduated from School in 1989 and studied Business Administration, which he successfully finished with a Master Degree (German: DiplomKaufmann). He joined the Air-Force and became a Pilot, flying the Tornado and the Eurofighter aircraft. Axel retired from the Air-Force in 2011 with the rank of Lieute...

THE DELIGHTFUL EIGHT – LIMITED EDITION VINTAGE PORTS

There is little in the wine-world which is as exclusive as Vintage Port from a fully declared year. “3 times per decade” was the magic rule, so fully declared Vintage Port is scarce. Even scarcer since in smaller numbers are the Limited Edition Vintage Ports. Normally harvested from small parcels with old vines within the respective Quinta, the microclimates of these plots produce even mo...