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Tasted as part of a vertical of 24 Graham's and Graham's Malvedos vintages at The RAF Club, Piccadilly, London, on 22nd March 2010.

The links:

• Organisation thread;
• Placemats;
• 1955 Graham’s Vintage Port;
• 1957 Graham’s Quinta dos Malvedos Vintage Port;
• 1958 Graham’s Quinta dos Malvedos Vintage Port;
• 1962 Graham’s Quinta dos Malvedos Vintage Port;
• 1964 Graham’s Quinta dos Malvedos Vintage Port;
• 1965 Graham's Malvedos;
• 1966 Graham;
• 1968 Graham's Malvedos;
• 1970 Graham;
• 1976 Graham's Malvedos;
• 1978 Graham's Malvedos;
• 1979 Graham's Malvedos;
• 1982 Graham's Malvedos;
• 1984 Graham's Malvedos;
• 1985 Graham;
• 1986 Graham's Malvedos;
• 1987 Graham's Malvedos;
• 1988 Graham's Malvedos;
• 1990 Graham's Malvedos;
• 1992 Graham's Malvedos half bottle #1 and; half bottle #2;
• 1995 Graham's Malvedos half bottle #1 and; half bottle #2;
• 1996 Graham's Malvedos;
• 1998 Graham's Malvedos;
• 1999 Graham's Malvedos;
• 2001 Graham's Malvedos;
• 2004 Graham's Malvedos;
• 2006 Graham's Malvedos;
• 2008 Cask Sample (work in progress)*;
• Review of the evening as a whole.

*Please note that the 2008 Cask Sample was donated to this tasting by the Symington family before the final blend was complete so this may not accurately represent what the 2008 Graham's or Graham's Malvedos will be, should either of these be approved and declared later in 2010.

Rich and attractive red colour with an easily transparent centre. The nose developed a perfumed strawberry sweetness over the course of the evening. Sweet and smooth entry with a lovely balance in the mouth before the tannins took hold. Full bodied and complex in the mouth. Warm, sweet and attractive aftertaste that lasts a huge amount of time. Great port, in need of more time in the cellar. One to revisit in 5 years. 91/100.

A measure darker than the 1984. Extremely pleasant initial taste, with the sweetness that so characterises Grahams. It is a reflection of the strength of the 80s Malvedos that there wasn't a noticeable jump in quality between this and those Malvedos that surrounded it (unlike with the 1970 and 1966).

a very decent bottle of Grahams 85, easily drunk between all these Malvedos. You need a lot of water to drink this one, but it makes fun.

1985 Graham’s Vintage Port:
A nice purple with some tight dark berries on the nose. Rich and dense this is full bodied from front to back. Again that trademark cedar shows late on the finish. A bottle still in its infancy so if you have them put them away. 94 points