Three Vintage 2022 Ports from Taylor and Fonseca including a new bottling called Sentinels
As a vintage, 2022 was heading for disaster – it was just so dry. Between November 2021 and February 2022 the Douro got just 78 mm of rain (it normally gets 370 mm over this period). March was better with 75 mm, but this was followed by a very dry spring and summer, coupled with a June heatwave. On 14 July a temperature of 46.5 °C was recorded in Pinhão. A little rain before harvest really helped, and picking began in early September with very small berries on the vines. The resilience of the Douro shows through these wines, which are really good.
Taylor’s Sentinels Vintage Port 2022
The name Sentinels is inspired by the Marcos de Feitoria, the stones used to demarcate the Douro in the 18th century: between 1758 and 1761 335 stone posts were placed in the region. This wine is made from Quintas all within the original demarcation line: Terra Feita, Junco, Casa Nova and Eira Velha, all in the Pinhão Valley. This wine will be made in non-declared vintages as an addition to the range. Bold, ripe and sweet, but nicely structured. This has spice-laden floral black cherry and blackberry fruit on the nose. The palate is firmly structured in a nice way, with fruit intensity and fruit structure, leading to a slightly dusty finish. This is a really promising baby vintage Port with nice intensity and structure, as well as generous fruit. 94/100
Taylor’s Vargellas Vintage Port 2022
Floral black cherry fruit nose with hints of mint. Lovely density of sweet black cherry and blackcurrant fruit. Rich and bold with nice structure sitting under the sweet fruit. Amazing combination of richness and structure here with a core of fruit, and really good balance. Such intensity, finishing with some sweet plummy notes. 95/100
Fonseca Guimaraens Vintage Port 2022
Brooding floral black cherry and blackberry nose with hints of olive and black pepper. The palate is bold and ripe with blackcurrant and blackberry fruit, as well as some olive notes. Concentrated, sweet and nicely intense. Good structure sitting under all this concentrated fruit. 95/100
