Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port 1977

98 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 1977 Taylor's Vintage Port is initially tight and conservative on the nose: strawberry, baked cherry, tobacco and wild hedgerow notes emerging but remaining tight-lipped. This needs a good decant! The palate is endowed with depth and concentration, very well balanced with an attractive crispness. Perhaps you could argue that it is a "linear" and more "correct" Taylor's compared to the 1970 and lacks some charm. But there is immense complexity here so it is more a case of a Port demanding a very long maturation in bottle. Drink: 2018-2030. (Jun 2018)"

98 points Axel Probst (The World of Fine Wine): "In 1977, Taylor's flagship Quinta de Vargellas was finally connected to the electric system in the Douro Valley. Dark red color with violet refrlections. Fresh spicy nose, with tobacco and raspberry. Fresh and fruity on the palate, with the first malty notes, but also still residual red berry fruit and tobacco. Long and sophisticated aftertaste. (Issue 57; 2017)"

97 points Wine Spectator: "Good ruby color still. The nose is fresh, with lots of crushed berry and plum, with a hint of piecrust. Full-bodied, with firm tannins and a caressing texture. This delivers loads of complex fruit and spiciness. Medium-sweet. A beauty. Will improve for decades, but why wait? '77/'85/'97 blind Port retrospective. Drink now. (2008)"

96 points Robert Parker: "This house must certainly be the Latour of Portugal. Their ports are remarkably backward yet still impressive when young. Of all the vintage ports, those of Taylor need the longest time to mature and even when fully mature seem to have an inner strength and firmness that keep them going for decades. Their tawnys are also among the very best, though somewhat expensive. The 1977 has consistently been at the top of my list of vintage ports in this great vintage, although the Dow, Graham, and Fonseca are equally splendid. It is a mammoth, opaque, statuesque vintage port of remarkable depth and power, but is should not be touched before 2000. (Jan 1989)"

95 points Wine Enthusiast: "The most prominently floral wine in the vertical, but that delicacy is amply backed by plush chocolate and dried fruit flavors. The finish is deceptively soft and welcoming, but still shows great backbone and the ability to go many more years. (Feb 2007)"