Notes from the winemaker:
Taylor Fladgate SCION, a unique pre-Phylloxera Port made in the mid-nineteenth century, is remarkable not only for its rarity and historic significance but also for the fact that, after 155 years of ageing in cask, the wine is in perfect condition.
SCION first came to the attention of Taylor Fladgate’s wine maker, David Guimaraens, in 2008. It had been passed down through various generations of a distinguished Douro Valley family who had kept it as a private family reserve, with the exception of one pipe said to have been acquired by Winston Churchill. In 2009 the sole remaining direct descendant of the family died leaving no children. Her heirs, not all family members, decided to sell the wine. Having acquired samples, the directors of Taylor Fladgate discovered that fifteen decades of ageing in oak casks had concentrated the wine to an essence of magical complexity. Not only was it drinking perfectly, it was sublime. Taylor Fladgate successfully negotiated the purchase of the wine which was moved, in two casks, to the firm’s lodges on 13th January, 2010.
SCION represents an opportunity which may never be repeated to acquire a wine of the utmost rarity and historical significance, a survivor from the lost era before Phylloxera destroyed the vineyards of Europe. There were only two casks of this very rare Port and the available quantity will be subject to available stocks at the time of ordering.
Ratings & Reviews
100 Points - Neal Martin's Wine Journal (from eRobertParker.com):
"Tasted at Taylor’s tawny seminar in London. A clear dark brown colour that looks like a mature Tokaji, with thick tears in the glass. It has a very intense, almost honeyed bouquet with allspice, singed leather, pressed rose petals, molasses, mint and a touch of dried fig. The oxidation is minimal, which is quite remarkable for its age, a sense of ebullience and joie-de-vivre bursting forth. The palate is full-bodied with intense honeyed fruits, touches of fig, date and liquorice vying for attention, biting acidity that cuts through the intense fruit. This is unbelievably fresh and vibrant with an almost Sauternes-like quality on the honey-glazed, hazelnut-tinged finish. It has unbelievable length. Simply stunning." - Neal Martin (Jan 2011)
