TN: Graham's - 20 yr. Tawny Port (Portugal, Douro, Porto)

WINE TALK
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NV Graham Porto 20-year Tawny - Portugal, Douro, Porto (7/9/2012)
– from freshly-opened bottle that was bottled in 2011 –
– tasted a couple pours non-blind over a couple hours –

NOSE: expressive; typical tawny Port Nose, with a lifted note reminiscent of a Madeira; raisins and golden raisins; fruitcake; hint of black licorice; complex and rich; really enjoyed the aromatics on this.

BODY: tan color with a vibrant ruby glint throughout; color is fairly dark for a 20 yr. Tawny; full bodied.

TASTE: very smooth presentation of pecan and toasted almonds flavors, dotted with spiced fruitcake notes; sweet, but not cloying; a gently confident finish advances from the rear middle palate and gently unfurls across the palate’s width; very long finish of moderate intensity; 20% alc. pokes through a little; very nice freshness. For my preferences, a very nice 20 yr. Tawny.

B: 50, 5, 13, 16, 8 = (92 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

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Glad you posted this note, Brian, as I have a 500 ml half-liter bottle ready to be cracked open upon my return from Montreal this coming weekend.

Interestingly, Graham’s 20 year old Tawny Port is the only I have ever seen sold readily available in 375 ml half, 500 ml, and 750 ml full size bottles. All other Tawny Ports I have seen sold here in Ontario and Montreal are either half-size or full-size bottles and I’ve never personally seen any other 500 ml bottles of any kind of Port for sale.

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I have never found the Graham’s 20 year old Tawny all that exciting, usually it is a bit hot and spirity. Especially with all the other really fine 20 year old Tawnies in the marketplace. Just my two cents.

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@Roy: Good thing for me it’s only a half-liter bottle then, eh? ; ) As part of my collection I also have Ramos Pintos, Fonseca and Cabral 20 year olds which I am expecting great things from. The only 20 year old I ever personally found hot and spirity was the Taylor Fladgate but I found that it settled down after a few days and mellowed into something really great.

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The Taylor used to be my go-to, but for readily available I have been enjoyiong the Fonseca more and more.

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Roy what are your favorites. I don’t drink a great many tawnies, but I’ve personally enjoyed the 20 yr Ferriera.

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Duque de Braganca by Ferreira is my favorite of all. The rest of my top dozen 20 year olds, in no particular order:

  • Burmester
  • Dalva
  • Pocas
  • Sandeman
  • Andresen
  • Warre’s Otima
  • S. Leonardo
  • Kopke
  • Taylor
  • Ramos Pinto “Bom Retiro”
  • Quinta do Portal
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Mmmmm, Poças!

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Niepoort?

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Eric,

I am a much bigger fan of the 10 and 30 year old Niepoort Tawnies and although I like the solid 20 year old, it wouldn’t knock any of the above out of my top 12.

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Opened a bottle this weekend. Showed beautifully

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Sorry for the tangent, but do folks have general thoughts on the 30 yr and 40 yr? If so, I’m interested to hear them. Thanks.

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I really like the Graham’s 30-year, but I can’t justify the price delta over a 20-year. For me it has a lot more caramel and spice, which has a time and place, but a limited time and place.

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20 year old is my sweet spot, with the fruit versus aromatics perfect.

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Same here.

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My favorite 20 year old.

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I’m more a fan of the Portuguese houses.

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The problem is finding the wines.

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You can generally find Kopke, Niepoort, and Ramos Pintos.

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Ah - thought you were referring to a less well known house.