Taylor’s Vargellas Single Quinta Vintage Port 2019

Taylor’s Vargellas Single Quinta Vintage Port 2019, Producer

Taylor’s, founded in 1692, is one of the most prestigious and historic names in Port. Their mastery of vintage Port production is unquestioned, but their Single Quinta releases (drawn from exceptional years at one estate) offer a unique, more intimate expression of terroir. Quinta de Vargellas, Taylor’s crown jewel in the Upper Douro, lies deep in the wild, dramatic landscapes of the valley’s eastern reaches. The quinta has long been the spiritual core of Taylor’s Vintage Ports, known for producing fruit of extraordinary aromatics, fine tannins and unmistakable elegance. In years like 2019, where Vargellas stands out in both purity and character, Taylor’s bottles it separately to showcase the estate at its most expressive.

Taylor’s Vargellas Single Quinta Vintage Port 2019, Terroir & Winemaking

Vargellas is planted on classic Douro schist: fractured, heat-retaining, mineral-rich rock that forces vines to root deep in search of moisture. This produces small, intensely flavoured berries with remarkable structure. The 2019 growing season delivered a near-perfect combination of warm days, cool nights and low yields, giving beautifully concentrated fruit with exceptional balance. Taylor’s traditional granite lagares remain central to the winemaking: foot-treading ensures gentle but thorough extraction, preserving both vibrancy and finesse. After fortification with grape spirit, the wine spends a short period in neutral wood before being bottled unfiltered as a Single Quinta Vintage Port, purpose-built for long ageing.

Taylor’s Vargellas Single Quinta Vintage Port 2019, Tasting Notes

A beautifully defined and aromatic vintage. The nose opens with wild blackberry, black cherry and cassis, wrapped in notes of violets, bergamot, rose petal and crushed schist. On the palate, the 2019 is powerful yet wonderfully poised: layers of blackberry compote, plum skin, liquorice, cocoa and subtle spice supported by firm, sculpted tannins. There is a mineral depth typical of Vargellas, giving lift and precision. The finish is long, dark-fruited and finely woven, a classic expression of the quinta’s elegance and purity.

Food Pairing Suggestion

Best enjoyed with Stilton, aged Cheddar, dark chocolate truffles, roasted nuts or simply sipped slowly after dinner.

Did you know?

Some of Taylor’s most legendary vintage Ports of the 20th century were built almost entirely on Vargellas fruit, the estate is often described as “the soul of Taylor’s”.