Taylor’s celebrates 2003 vintage becoming first port in space with special gift box

To celebrate the momentous occasion of a port wine travelling to space for the first time, Taylor’s is bringing extra sparkle to wine cellars this summer with limited edition galactic-inspired gift box packaging for its 2003 Vintage Port.

One of the most highly rated vintage ports in recent decades, the Taylor’s 2003’s legacy was elevated to new heights in August 2022 when it became the first ever port to break through the Earth’s atmosphere. Enclosed in a specially designed 50cl container sealed with natural cork, a bottle of Taylor’s 2003 Vintage Port travelled to an altitude of 107 kilometres above mean sea level as the chosen vinous companion to fellow pioneer - and the first ever Portuguese man in space - businessman and entrepreneur, Mário Ferreira. 

Reflecting on the historic significance of the mission, Taylor’s CEO Adrian Bridge remarked, that this particular Port Wine was ‘an excellent choice and the perfect vintage with which to explore new frontiers’. He added ‘The Taylor’s 2003 Vintage is one of the most highly acclaimed Port Wines of recent decades - a monumental Vintage which, to quote celebrated wine authority Robert Parker, will stand proudly shoulder to shoulder with the finest ever crafted by Taylor’s’. 

Sourced from two of Taylor’s greatest vineyards in the Douro – Quinta de Vargellas and Quinta de Terra Feita, the grapes from these two iconic sites come together when a classic vintage is declared. The 2003 vintage was blessed with bright warm weather at the end of May which supported successful flowering in the vineyards and was further buoyed by intense summer heat in early August which often heralds a great port vintage. With cooler temperatures in late August followed by a warm and dry picking season in September, the near perfect growing conditions ensured balance and complexity in the resulting wines. 

Taylor’s 2003 Vintage Port, has received consistently high scores from leading wine critics and still displays exceptional power, depth and purity of fruit. The nose entices with a captivating combination of floral, aromatic blueberry and blackberry aromas, while the palate follows on with beautifully concentrated pure sweet fruit and a lovely spicy, savoury, yet silky tannic structure. Already drinking beautifully, with an interminable finish laden with rich, dark chocolate, kirsch and blackcurrants, this still youthful port seduces with characteristic Taylor’s understatement and restraint. 

With decades of potential still ahead, this exceptional example of Vintage Port sourced directly from Taylor’s cellars and perfectly cloaked in its star-studded packaging, will add sparkle to a stellar collector’s cellar as a reminder of a historic moment in time for Vintage Port.