Vintage Port Perfection

100-point 1994 Taylor and Fonseca

Released Ex-Cellars in 2021

A “Landmark” vintage

The #1 wines from the Wine Spectator Top 100 of 1997

1994 Taylor Fladgate Ex-Cellars

$169.89 (750ml) OWC6 | Pre-Arrival- Buy Now

100 WS / 100 JS / 99 WE / 97 RP / 18 JR

1994 Fonseca Ex-Cellars

$169.89 (750ml) OWC6 | Pre-Arrival- Buy Now

100 WS / 98 DE / 97 RP

 In 1994 we were watching “Seinfeld”, “E.R” and the debut of “Friends”, and the “Rachel” haircut was everywhere. We went to the theater to watch “Forrest Gump” or “The Lion King”, or maybe “The Shawshank Redemption” or “Four Weddings and Funeral”. And we had to go to theaters and watch TV live because there were no DVDs, no Netflix, no YouTube. Blackberries were still just a fruit, and the only mobile device anyone had was a pager. We listened to Ace of Base, or the Crash Test Dummies, or Snoop Dogg, or Weezer, and we mostly listened on cassette, though CDs were starting to take off.

In the Douro they hadn’t had a declared vintage since 1985 and there was a sense of panic with some light rains in early September. But patience was rewarded and some amazing wines were produced in the vintage. Now, almost 30 years later, we have just got access to some precious bottles of two 100-pointers: Taylor Fladgate and Fonseca, both Ex-Cellars. Obviously very limited, but so worth the wait.

1994 Taylor Fladgate Ex-Cellars

$169.89 (750ml) OWC6 | Pre-Arrival - Buy Now

100 WS / 100 JS / 99 WE / 97 RP / 18 JR

#1 Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 1997

This stock was released in 2021 directly from Taylor Fladgate's cellars.

In a word, superb. It's full-bodied, moderately sweet and incredibly tannic, but there's amazing finesse and refinement to the texture, not to mention fabulous, concentrated aromas of raspberries, violets and other flowers. Perhaps the greatest Taylor ever, it's better than either the '92 or the '70, though it's very like the '70 in structure. Best after 2010. - James Suckling, Wine Spectator

This is, to date, the greatest Vintage Port ever from here. It overwhelmed me years ago when I tasted it from barrel, but only now is it crossing gradually into its drinking window. The intensity is still mind-boggling here, with sweet-and-sour notes as well as mounds of clay. There are violets lurking somewhere too. A full-bodied, medium sweet and sublime Vintage Port, showing forest fruits and freshly picked blackberries on the palate in the form of a creamy, focused and tannic texture. - James Suckling, October 2012

1994 Fonseca Ex-Cellars

$169.89 (750ml) OWC6 | Pre-Arrival - Buy Now

100 WS / 97 RP

#1 Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 1997

This stock was released in 2021 directly from Fonseca’s cellars.

Hold on to your hat. This is the best Fonseca since 1977, and it's probably even better than that classic vintage--more like the breathtaking 1948. Mind-blowing, with masses of color, aroma and fruit flavor. Smells like fermenting berries, boasting loads of crushed grape, violet and berry character. Big, full-bodied and very sweet, with tons of tannins and a sweet finish. Tannic and huge, it's a long-term, great Port. Best after 2012. 8,000 cases made. - James Suckling, Wine Spectator

One of the most spectacular 1994s, this opaque purple-colored wine is an exotic, flamboyant, ostentatious port. Extremely fragrant and pungent, with a flashy display of jammy cassis, pepper, licorice, and truffles, this port is an attention-grabber. Awesomely rich, and full-bodied, with superb length, richness, and overall balance, it possesses a huge mid-palate, layers of flavor, an unctuous texture, and a blockbuster finish. Everything is in place, with the brandy and tannin well-integrated, even concealed by the masses of fruit and glycerin. This wine will drink fabulously well at age ten, but keep for up to thirty years. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2035. - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

Check out all of our Vintage Ports