Graham's 50 Years Tawny

Graham's

Origin

Portugal

Type

Tawny Port

Barrel

Large Vat

Age

50 years

Alcohol

21°

Value

300 points

About the product

Tawny literally means as much as ‘light brown in colour’. That colour is what port gets after a longer maturation in oak casks; the older the whisky, the deeper, richer and more seductive the colour. Tawny porto is the result of the combination of three crafts: cask knowledge, ageing and blending. More than 50 years of patience are required before this Graham's 50yo Tawny can be bottled. That in itself is a commendable achievement.

There are two essential components to this half-century. The first is a 1969 wine known as the CAS Reserve, a wine originally set aside by Peter Symington to celebrate the birth of his son Charles. CAS stands for Charles Andrew Symington, his full name. The other component is a blend of wines from between 1970 and 1973, assembled in 1982. More than 50% of the original wines were evaporated during long ageing, resulting in an exceptional concentration of flavours.

The colour of this wine is incredible. Deep orange-brown, on a base of dark walnut and with a soft edge of pale green - a first hallmark of quality in aged tawny port. The nose is complex, with orange blossom, fruit cake, toffee, tobacco and caramel. Balanced but each element gets its place in the experience. The mouthfeel is the first thing that strikes upon tasting: rich, full, creamy with an unforgettable and surprisingly youthful acidity that provides a delicate but perfect balance. Spicy wood, nutmeg, cinnamon take turns to take the lead, ending in a long, lingering finish.

This port literally spent 50 years waiting to end up in your glass, and you can taste it.

About the brand

Graham's Port is the absolute reference when it comes to quality port. It is a house with a long and fascinating history that has been committed to producing products of absolute top quality, in all price ranges, for more than 200 years.

The story starts in 1820, when brothers William and John Graham founded the house. Soon the Graham's name became synonymous with quality, leading to the construction of the Graham's Lodge in Gaia and the acquisition of the Quinta Dos Malvedos in 1890. That was one of the first times a porto house invested in land in the upper Douro Valley. Eight years earlier, in 1882, one Andrew James Symington had moved from Scotland to Porto to work for the Graham family. There lies the seed of the link between the two families. In 1970, Andrew's grandsons would take over the business from the Grahams and build it into what it has become today.

Graham's wines are still produced and blended using traditional methods. It is master blender Charles Symington himself who tastes all the maturing wines and decides which barrels can be bottled or blended when. There is no scientific analysis involved, it is based entirely on the combined skill and experience of the experienced winemakers in Charles Symington's team.

Graham's has several vineyards, of which Quinta Dos Malvedos is the most important and prestigious - the vines in this Quinta enjoy the best the Douro Valley has to offer: abundant sunshine and reasonable rainfall. Other Graham's vineyards include Quinta do Tua, Quinta da Vila Velha and Quinta do Vale de Malhadas.