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The November 2020 Auction: Part 4

Auction # 634 | View Auction Schedule and Details
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Auction Ends: 11/29/2020 6:00:00 PM PDT

Lot #1179. Taylor's Tawny Porto Scion Very Old Port From the Pre-Phylloxera Era NV

Description: Consists of 1 Bottle, 0.75L
Packaging: OWC.
Region: Portugal, Douro, Porto.
Score: 100 NM.
"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. Tasted October 2010." Neal Martin, Wine Journal, Jan 2011
Provenance: The Apennine Cellar
Notes: Bottled 2011. "In 2008 Taylor Fladgate's Head winemaker, David Guimaraens, became aware of the existence of a very old and rare cask-aged port, dating from the period before Phylloxera arrived in the Douro Valley and destroyed most of its vineyards. The wine, over 150 years in age, belonged to a distinguished Douro family and was stored in a wine lodge in the village of Prezegueda in the Corgo Valley. A treasured heirloom, the wine had been passed down from one generation to the next and attempts to persuade the family to part with it had been unsuccessful. In 2009, the sole surviving descendant of the family died leaving no children. Her heirs, not all of whom were family members, decided to sell the two casks of this unique and historically important wine. Taylor Fladgate acquired samples and, amazingly in view of its age, found that it was not only in faultless condition but of superb quality. The purchase was successfully negotiated and the two casks were moved to the firm’s lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia on 13th January, 2010. Under normal circumstances a very old wood age port like this would have been incorporated into the firm’s aged tawny reserves, in this case into the 40 year old tawny blend. However, in view of its quality, rarity and historical interest, Taylor Fladgate's CEO, Adrian Bridge, decided that it should not be blended but should be made available as a unique collector’s item. In the autumn of 2010, the wine was launched as a very limited edition, under the name of Scion. Scion is one of the oldest and rarest aged tawny ports ever sold and one of very few pre-Phylloxera wines from any vineyard region to reach us in perfect condition." - www.Taylor.pt
Read about SWA's Six Point Inspection Process and how to read the condition notes.
Lot Location: Orange County
Estimate: $1,700

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