Wine Reviews

Tightly focused in feel, with racy graphite notes supporting a core of dark currant, blackberry and plum reduction … while also showing hints of alder smoke, licorice root and Turkish coffee.

The 2022 Sentinels Vintage Port is a new vintage Port from Taylor’s, and this is the first time they have released this wine. It was selected from their best lots in their properties in the Pinhão Valley, the Quintas Terra Feita, Junco, Casa Nova and Eira Velha. It has the traditional grapes from the region, with a significant percentage of old vines planted with mixed varieties, and it fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in large oak vats for two years. They didn’t declare their vintage this year and produced this wine and the single quinta from Quinta de Vargellas. It’s harmonious and serious, a little shy, certainly not explosive, with a classical profile and the approachable personality of the 2022s, with notes of rockrose, macerated berries and violets, with a soft and textured palate with very fine tannins, and a medium structure. It has 20% alcohol, 4.3 grams of acidity and 102 grams of sugar. It finished quite sweet. 54,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in 2024.

A very floral nose, showing lots of dried violets and lavender to the sweet blueberries and iodine. Full-bodied and really silky, with an abundance of fine, dusty tannins melting on the palate. Rich, flavorful and a touch open. Approachable fairly early but will age well in the next two to three decades.