February 23, 2018

TAYLOR FLADGATE “325th Anniversary” Limited Edition Reserve Tawny Port

(Oporto, Portugal) $35

Tasting wine in my office in Napa Valley, it’s nice to be reminded that some wineries were around way before California was. Taylor Fladgate, one of the most impressive Port shippers, made this lovely Tawny to commemorate their 325th Anniversary. Fresh, lively, (and wonderfully priced), it has all of Tawny’s compelling flavors—a swirl of toffee, figs, brown sugar, plums, vanilla, and crème brûlée yet (like a great dessert) it’s not at all sugary or saccharin. In fact, on these still cool nights, a small glass of this and a bit of hard cheese is just about the perfect way to end the night. (20% abv)

93 points KM

Available at Total Wine & More

To call yourself a sommelier, you must be certified as such.

Answer: False.

While it’s true that some sommeliers are credentialed by certifying bodies such as the Master Sommelier organization, a sommelier does not have to be certified to work in restaurants or other establishments. Indeed, many well-known sommeliers are not officially certified, even though their knowledge of wine is immense.

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Number of years out of every 5 that some vineyards in Ontario, Canada, experience “winter kill”—temperatures so cold (like minus 13 degrees F) that the vine’s trunk dies. To try to avoid winter kill, Ontario… Continue reading

TAYLOR FLADGATE “325th Anniversary” Limited Edition Reserve Tawny Port

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