ThePortForum.com

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.

Alas I was unable to take a tasting note of this port.

I was obviously struggling at this stage. My note simply said "very nice".

Ex-cellars. Opaque, deep red and an impenetrable centre. Hot and spicy on the nose, youthfully exuberant and still showing blackcurrants. Soft texture in the mouth, fruit forward; sweet and ripe but with good tannic grip. Delicious on the palate. Good fruity aftertaste, with sweet blackcurrants dominating. Impressive. 87/100.

I did not know if this port is only in a bad phase or it is as it is: so it was one you will not discuss afterwards

1996 Graham’s Malvedos Vintage Port:
A deep purple color and a tight nose that didn’t give up much. The tannins were rough and it didn’t help that the fruit was also not giving up much on the palate. I think this is in an awkward place at the moment, yet later in the evening it showed good promise for the future. Let this sleep for a while longer until it comes out of this phase it’s in. Of note, there were 487 pipes produced at Malvedos this vintage. The highest amount ever produced. 93 Points