TAYLOR

The 1983 Vintage Port is up for a status check. It is in a pretty good place now. It's been as hard as nails over the years. Not anymore. With softened tannins and a medley of old Port flavors on the finish, this is both sensual and delicious, with velvety texture and an irresistible finish. It doesn't have that hard edge any more, but it does wake up and become more intense with some air. At least from this bottle, it comes together rather promptly and drinks well. It's lacking just a bit of firmness, but its complex flavors and general demeanor make it rather sexy. The lingering finish seals the deal. It can keep going for quite some time--it is Port and they tend not to drop off the table if well stored--but this is a nice time to dive in. Drinking range: 2015 - 2035 Rating: 94 Mark Squires, robertparker.com (Dec 2015)

This is more mature in appearance than the -80 with a light brick rim. Again, the nose is tight and conservative with notes of raspberry leaf, plum, freshly tilled earth and dried fig. Perhaps it just lacks a little personality The palate is more austere than the -80 but it has more concentration and structure, more masculine. Notes of blackberry, cassis, cherry- and black olive with a dash of white pepper on the finish. This is a quietly impressive Taylor's with a lovely, supple finish. Very fine. Tasted November 2007. Rating: 93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Nov 2007)

Foxy red with some evolution. Putty and round and sweet on the nose. Beguiling and fresh but a little spindly. Definite dry finish but no excess of tannin. Already quite pretty. Drinking range: 2007 - 2030 Rating: 17 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Oct 2004)