Super dupa rare and 100/100.

This is the business when it comes to Vintage Port.  There is not enough space on this page to tell you how good this is and how quickly you need to grab one before it goes.

Magnificence in a bottle and seems cheap considering the cost of other fine wine icons about.

"This is a magnificent, opulent wine, with rich tannins and equally rich black fruits. While it has plenty of ripeness that gives it a generous character, it never wavers in its firm structure. It will have an immensely long, impressive life. (RV)" 100/100 Wine Enthusiast]

The 2017 Quinta de Vargellas Vinha Velha Vintage Port is a field blend of typical grapes (like Touriga Nacional, Touriga Francesca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca) aged for 20 months in French wood. It comes in with 105 grams of residual sugar. The "old vines" here reference centenarian vines on average. This was not quite bottled when seen, but it was the final blend. Not better qualitatively than the regular Taylor's this year, this is stylistically different--more precise, more elegant, less lush and with less vivid fruit for the moment. The drier (so it seems in perception) and sterner presentation makes this one need a lot of time … Even with some aeration, it is very closed now--not astringent per se, but not expressive either. As fine as this seems today, it is likely to improve dramatically with time. Expression of fruit here will only come to those who have patience, and not otherwise. This tightly wound and rather muscular Port is filled with potential, even if it is all potential just now. It is worth leaning up for the moment. It is highly likely to justify the optimism. In ten years when we taste the greats from this vintage, this will be on the shortlist. However, fair warning--if you lack a cellar, look away. (MS) 97-99/100 Wine Advocate

The wines of Quinta de Vargellas traditionally form the ‘backbone’ of the Taylor Vintage Port blend. This outstanding estate, recognised as one of the world’s finest vineyards, was acquired by Taylor’s in 1893 although its reputation as a source of the finest ports dates back to the 1820’s. Located in the remote eastern reaches of the Douro Valley, Vargellas is known for its elegant, scented wines, with their fine focused fruit and well integrated sinewy tannins. It is also known as a source of one of the rarest and most collectible vintage ports of all, Vargellas Vinha Velha, made in very small quantities from the produce of the oldest vines on the estate.

The terraced plots containing the oldest vines on the property account for over 15% of the estate’s total production. The Vargellas Vinha Velha vintage port represents a very limited selection of the production of these old vines and seldom accounts for more than about 2% of the total production of the property.

"Impenetrable ruby black core and narrow purple rim. As usual with the Vargellas Vinha Velha, the nose is beautifully balanced and complete, revealing multiple layers and dimensions of aroma as it opens up in the glass.  The base is a coulis of dense, dark berries, with brambly woodland fruit, cassis and black cherry aromas.  The voluptuous richness of the fruit is tempered by an attractive flinty, mineral edge and the discreet pungency of wild herbs and cedar wood. 
 
As the wine evolves, evocative aromas emerge, such as beeswax, leather and cigar box, like the unexpected resonances of an antique instrument.  The palate is supported by thick granular tannins and is packed with dense black and red berry fruit flavour that rises in a crescendo on the finish.  A wine of majestic scale and proof, if any were needed, that 2017 was an exceptional year for old vines." Winery