An American Story, an Independence Day Worth Toasting

Among the figures who shaped the house was Joseph Camo, the enterprising American partner who came to the aid of quality Ports during Marshal Soult’s invasion of the city. With the French at the gates and the wine trade in peril, Camo carried an American passport that stood in good order with the occupying forces—and used that standing to protect the lodge and its precious ageing stocks. It is a story of nerve and good fortune, and one that ties Taylor’s, in a small but real way, to the nation now celebrating its founding.

The Port industry would not face devastation again until the bleak economic decades following the Second World War. With their backs against the wall, Port houses were forced either to sell out or to adapt—and adapt Taylor’s did. By creating the first Late Bottled Vintage, the house pioneered a style that would help sustain many of the Port houses we know today. What began as an act of survival became one of the great innovations in the modern history of the Douro.

Among the great wines of the region, few have done more to change the way the world drinks Port than Taylor’s Late Bottled Vintage. It offers much of the depth and pedigree of a Vintage Port, yet in a form that needs no decanting—a wine drawn from a single harvest, matured longer in large neutral flavoured wooden vats, and ready to be enjoyed the moment you reach for it. Where a classic Vintage Port asks for patience and ceremony, an LBV gives you the same nobility of fruit with none of the fuss.

In the glass it pours a deep, brooding ruby, the colour of late-summer berries. The nose is generous and inviting, layered with ripe blackberry, dark cherry, a touch of cassis. On the palate it is full and rounded, its rich, dark-fruit sweetness and plums held in balance by fine, supple tannins and fresh acidity- The finish is long, smooth and enticing.

There is no need to lay it down for years in the cellar or open it hours ahead to breath; simply pull the cork and pour. Serve it lightly chilled, at around 16-17°C, to bring its fruit into focus on a warm evening or a half-hour in the refrigerator is all it takes. It is generous enough to stand alone after a meal, yet versatile enough to bring to the table.

At a Fourth of July gathering it earns its place with ease. Pour it alongside a board of mature cheddar, blue cheeses or carry it through to desserts with dark chocolate, a berry pie or a simple bowl of summer fruit. It is equally at home after the fireworks, poured into modest glasses (white wine or port glasses) and savoured slowly as the evening winds down.

Two and a half centuries on from the events that bind Taylor’s to the American story, there could be no more fitting way to raise a toast. Joseph Camo’s quick thinking helped carry a great Port house through one of its darkest hours; the Late Bottled Vintage carried the whole industry through another. This Independence Day, a glass of Taylor’s LBV is a small tribute to resilience, ingenuity and the enduring pleasure of a wine made to be shared.

This July, Discover the Wonder of WOW (The World of Wine)

High above the Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia, WOW invites you to spend a summer’s day where Porto’s greatest pleasures come together. Begin with the Wine Experience, an immersive journey through the history, craft and culture of Portuguese wine, complete with tastings to awaken the senses. Then surrender to the Chocolate Experience, where the story of cocoa unfolds from ancient ritual to living factory—tastings included. When hunger calls, the day continues at the table: settle into 1828 for refined dining with sweeping river views or let Golden Catch tempt you with the freshest flavours of the sea while sitting outside looking across the river to Porto. Museums, gastronomy, Sunset parties, shows, concerts, and some of the finest panoramas in the city await. This July, make time for an unforgettable day at WOW—where every experience is worth savouring.

Plan your visit at wow.pt.