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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.

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

Exactly the same colour as the 1955. Not so elegant on the nose but still quite well formed. Markedly sweeter on the initial palate followed by a hugely long, elegant, aftertaste. For an unknown year this was fabulous. Nothing about this wine suggested that it was tired or too old, despite its age.

1957 Graham’s Malvedos Vintage Port:
The color was slightly lighter brown than the 1955 Graham’s VP and had a sweeter nose as well. The fruit was starting to show signs of drying out leaving this just a touch out of balance with some excessive heat showing as a result. But a solid sweet finish really saved this one from a lower score. It was interesting to note that later in the evening a distinct note of tobacco showed up rather late on the finish. Based on this bottle, I’d say this is just past its prime and should be consumed sooner rather than later. 90 points