1970 Graham
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Tasting notes
Tasted as part of the Symington's event at the Portuguese embassy in London to launch the Graham's and Warre's 2020 anniversary ports and celebrate 650 years of Anglo-Portuguese friendship. A wet winter with a cold and dry March. Warm weather in April was ideal for flowering. Spring and summer were calm and settled. Rain fell in late August and early September. Harvesting started at Malvedos on 21 September. Good weather throughout the vintage. Winemakers James and Peter Symington. TA 4.05 g/l. 'Drinking history', says Johnny Symington. This was t heir first declaration of Graham's. Browning core with tawny rim but still some red in the colour. Lovely herbal scent with hints of bitter orange, plus figs, complex scented dried fruits but not at all raisined, tannins still have a little bit of friction but there's an incredible amount of fruit even now, and silky on the finish. Deep and gently chewy with the intense freshness of spiced bitter orange. Port expert Richard Mayson described it as 'one of the post-war greats'. Fabulous length and unfolds in the glass. Great freshness. (JH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Mid tawny. A touch of spirit, dried cherry and pot pourri. On the palate, dried cherry, fig, sweet spice and a floral touch. Length attenuated by some alcohol. (TJ)
Charles Symington chose to serve this wine at his wedding – no greater praise! 1970 was the year the Syms bought Graham’s. Translucent ruby with rusty rim. Very complex tertiary bouquet, decongestant (aniseed?) aromas and wonderfully sweet but very far from sickly on the palate with some vestiges of tannin. Just beautiful balance with sufficient freshness and vitality. Still very vigorous. A remarkably youthful bottle – not quite as knockout as the one described here . (JR)
First vintage made by the Syms – a vintage that effectively paid for the purchase of Graham's. A wine with a particularly interesting history. The Portuguese revolution broke out just after this was shipped. As an insurance policy the Syms bought back some 1970s and stored them in the north at Whittalls. They sell it at a premium today. The decision to buy Graham's was crucial for the Symingtons – they had great stocks. This was the last year that vintage port could be bottled in the UK. Dark garnet. Very bright. High-toned and fresh on the nose and beautifully dry and liquorice and yet full of glorious floral fruit. Dry but not drying finish. Real beauty now. Long and glorious. (JR)