Taylor’s Launches ‘Victory Port’ to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II
Taylor’s is extremely proud to announce the release of a new and very rare Port wine, Victory Port, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War.
In January 2025, a new category of Port wine was established, the 80-Year-Old Tawny Port. To commemorate this historic milestone, Taylor’s is delighted to introduce this rare and limited-edition release that commemorate this significant moment in history.
This exclusive edition consists of precisely 1,945 individually numbered bottles, a reference to the year 1945, when peace was restored to the world.
Taylor’s Victory Port is a masterpiece of patience and expertise. Aged for eight decades in hand-crafted, seasoned oak casks, this exceptional Tawny Port represents the pinnacle of Taylor’s unrivalled craftsmanship in fine Port winemaking.To create this extraordinary blend, Taylor’s has drawn upon its extensive reserves of very old cask-aged Ports, carefully preserved in its historic cellars in Oporto. Among these reserves lies a treasury of rare and historically significant wines, representing a tiny volume of the house’s finest aged stocks. Only in the most exceptional of circumstances are these rare gems unveiled. For Victory Port, Taylor’s expert blenders have meticulously selected a few of these remarkable vintages.
Once chosen, these individual wines were harmoniously blended using Taylor’s centuries- old expertise, ensuring a seamless integration of flavours, complexity, and depth. The blend was then allowed to marry together in cask for several months, until it achieved perfect balance and elegance.
“This wine is a tribute not only to a pivotal moment in history but also to the generations who came before us and shaped the world we know today,” says Adrian Bridge, CEO of Taylor’s. “The name Victory embodies the resilience and spirit that have defined our era, and it is a great honour for us to craft this wine as a lasting tribute. We are also proud to introduce this wine as the first under the IVDP’s (Port and Douro Wine Institute) 80-Year- Old category, a new milestone in Port wine classification.”
The name ‘Victory’ not only acknowledges the historic events of 1945 but also reflects Taylor’s enduring success as one of the most respected names in the Port wine industry. For over three centuries, Taylor’s has been at the forefront of fine Port production, maintaining a steadfast commitment to quality, tradition, and innovation. This new release not only marks a key historical anniversary but also introduces a new category that will set a benchmark for future generations of Port enthusiasts.
Each of the 1,945 bottles of Taylor’s Victory Port are individually numbered and presented in a bespoke luxury case, designed to reflect the significance of this edition. The elegant box, crafted from Ash wood, embodies refinement and quality, making it a collector’s item in its own right. Inside, the bottle features an exclusive Taylor’s design, where the brand’s heritage is showcased.
David Guimaraens, Taylor’s Chief Winemaker, adds, “The creation of Taylor’s Victory has been a true labour of love. The long ageing process of this Port has allowed us to craft a wine of immense character, depth, and complexity. This is a wine that reflects history, perseverance, and the artistry of our winemaking team and we hope it will be enjoyed, appreciated, and treasured by Port lovers around the world.”
Taylor’s Victory Port boasts remarkable depth of character and personality, making it a fitting tribute to resilience, progress, and the pursuit of peace and freedom. Taylor’s Victory Port will be available for purchase at leading wine merchants from mid- April with a recommended retail price of £600.
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Tasting Note: Rich mahogany, fading to copper gold on the rim. The wine envelops the nose with a superb and heady mixture of opulent and seductive aromas. A wave of rum and raisin, molasses and caramel are overlaid with delicate notes of coffee beans, golden sultanas, sweet cigar leaf, combined with an elegant nuttiness and the subtle scent of fine oak. On the palate hints of nutmeg, gingerbread, anise and quince, quickly followed by a surge of black pepper, rich figgy plum pudding and confit apricot. The wine is in perfect balance with sweetness, a smooth velvety palate which is lifted by a crisp acidity which gives the wine an attractive freshness and elegance. The finish is immensely long, finely constituted and wonderfully balanced. A wine with incredible depth and layers of complexity. The perfect way to remember such a poignant and historic event as peace was declared at the end of the Second World War.
About Taylor’s Port: Taylor’s is one of the oldest and most respected Port houses, established in 1692. A family company since its foundation, it remains dedicated exclusively to the production of high- quality Port wines, from vineyard cultivation and grape harvesting to fermentation, ageing, and bottling. Taylor’s is recognised as a benchmark for Vintage Port, with its classic vintages earning the highest scores and commanding strong auction prices. Known for their elegance, longevity, and distinctive aromatic character, Taylor’s Vintage Ports are blended from the finest wines of the firm’s own ‘quintas’ or estates. The house pioneered the Late Bottled Vintage (L.B.V.) style and remains its principal producer. It also introduced Dry White Port with the creation of Chip Dry and was the first to release a Single Quinta Vintage Port. Taylor’s is also regarded as the foremost producer of Aged Tawnies, with one of the most extensive reserves of cask-aged Port. Taylor’s is committed to preserving the unique environmental, social, and economic characteristics of the Douro Valley through the promotion of sustainable viticulture.
For more information, visit www.taylor.pt.