There is a tradition of giving port to a newborn to enjoy years down the line, once they’re old enough to drink it. However, the vast majority of port these days is sold to be consumed immediately, and very few will develop at all once they’re in the bottle – much less improve. Geosmin is a chemical compound that can give wines and ports an unpleasant, earthy odour, usually the result of using grape crops having been affected by rot.

Vintage ports are the top-quality red ports from a single year – and only the best years. They’re aged in wood for just a couple of years. Unlike most ports, they have the potential to develop in the bottle (more on that later).

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Taylor’s Golden Age Very Old Tawny is the perfect wine with which to commemorate a half century, be it a 50th anniversary or a five-decade landmark. We asked Charles for his tips on choosing the best bottle of port, and explain what we found when we tested supermarket ports. After half a century in cask, this exceptional wine has reached its ‘Golden Age’ of maturity, the point at which it achieves perfect balance, a magical complexity and a seductive smoothness and density. Read on for our full guide including what the difference is between red and tawny ports, decoding the label, and the best way to serve it for maximum flavour. This style of Port is fully matured in seasoned oak casks each holding about 630 litres of wine. Here, over many years of ageing, the wine gradually takes on its characteristic amber ‘ tawny’ colour, slowly developing the complex mellow flavours and the smooth luscious palate which are the hallmarks of Tawny Port.

Taylor`s launches a third limited edition of a Reserve Tawny Port to pay homage to its long history of pioneering, passion and heritage. Tawny keeps better than vintage since it’s already been exposed to air during maturation. Kept in the fridge or cellar, a tawny port can be enjoyed many weeks after the bottle is opened. Ruby port – These tend to be inexpensive, deep ruby-coloured, and often associated with the cheeseboard. Within this category, you’ll find your slightly more premium reserve ports, late bottled vintage port (otherwise known as LBV, these are aged for longer but still designed to be drunk young) and vintage ports. How we test portHighlands - Postcode Locations AB31, AB32, AB33, AB34, AB35, AB36, AB37, AB38, AB40, AB41, AB42, AB43, AB44, AB45, AB46, AB47, AB48, AB49, AB50, AB51, AB52, AB53, AB54, AB55, AB56, IV1, IV10, IV11, IV12, IV13, IV14, IV15, IV16, IV17, IV18, IV19, IV2, IV20, IV21, IV22, IV23, IV24, IV25, IV26, IV27, IV28, IV29, IV3, IV30, IV31, IV32, IV33, IV34, IV35, IV36, IV37, IV38, IV39, IV4, IV40, IV5, IV52, IV53, IV54, IV6, IV63, IV7, IV8, IV9, KW1, KW10, KW11, KW12, KW13, KW14, KW2, KW3, KW4, KW5, KW6, KW7, KW8, KW9, PA21, PA22, PA23, PA24, PA25, PA26, PA27, PA28, PA29, PA30, PA31, PA32, PA33, PA34, PA35, PA36, PA37, PA38, PA39, PA40, PH4, PH5, PH6, PH7, PH8, PH9, PH10, PH11, PH12, PH13, PH14, PH15, PH16, PH17, PH18, PH19, PH2, PH20, PH21, PH22, PH23, PH24, PH25, PH26, PH27, PH28, PH29, PH30, PH31, PH32, PH33, PH34, PH35, PH36, PH37, PH38, PH39, PH40, PH41, PH49, PH50 Blended from rare wood-aged ports matured for five decades in oak casks, Taylor’s Golden Age is a special collector’s edition port released in very limited quantities. You might think port lasts forever after it’s been opened, but sadly that’s not the case, though it differs by type. Spending more doesn't guarantee a better bottle, as we found when we asked independent wine expert Charles Metcalfe to try a selection of ports in 2021. But it helps to be in the know about what to look for. Ruby port is the youngest and cheapest style of red port. The best of these are bright, fruity and peppery.