1983 Graham

Tasting notes for individual Ports, with an index sorted by vintage and alphabetically.
Forum rules
Tasting notes for individual Ports, with an index sorted by vintage and alphabetically.
Post Reply
Ed.W
Cheap Ruby
Posts: 15
Joined: 21:40 Sun 28 Dec 2014

1983 Graham

Post by Ed.W »

Decanted 7 hours

About 55% opaque, more red than purple. Slightly spirity, with cherries on the nose. A bit drier than other Graham ports I've sampled, but touching medium-sweet, with strawberries and slightly dusty cherries on the palate. Not massively thick in its mouth feel. A bit of heat on the finish, traces of herbs, combined with the strawberry found earlier, and maybe even a soupçon of tobacco. Lasts quite long.

Good, and with noticeable signs of maturity, but there seems to be something missing somewhere. I'll go back to it tomorrow, with no qualms, but at the moment...

87
Ed.W
Cheap Ruby
Posts: 15
Joined: 21:40 Sun 28 Dec 2014

Re: 1983 Graham

Post by Ed.W »

D+48

Heat and tannins softened considerably, appears to have loosened its belt in the decanter. Mid palate full of luscious sweet red fruits, but also with a trace of cranberry-like tartness. Finishes sweeter, with a trace of licorice. Still a tad thin in its mouthfeel, but noticeably improved; needs a lot of time and air, I suspect.

Could still probably show a bit more, but it easily gains 2 or 3 points on its original score.
LGTrotter
Dalva Golden White Colheita 1952
Posts: 3707
Joined: 17:45 Fri 19 Oct 2012
Location: Somerset, UK

Re: 1983 Graham

Post by LGTrotter »

I often think that improvement in the decanter is a sign of development in years to come. Is this your impression, that there may be more to come?
Ed.W
Cheap Ruby
Posts: 15
Joined: 21:40 Sun 28 Dec 2014

Re: 1983 Graham

Post by Ed.W »

Speaking as someone who has drunk about 1% of the quantity of vintage port which has been drunk by some on here, I reckon it could still develop more.

People more qualified to talk on the subject then myself reckon it could surpass the '85s in time, which gives more weight to my hunch.

Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk
Glenn E.
Graham’s 1977
Posts: 4188
Joined: 22:27 Wed 09 Jul 2008
Location: Seattle, WA, USA

Re: 1983 Graham

Post by Glenn E. »

My most recent experiences with this Port have produced TNs similar to Ed's. Using his D+48 adjustment and then applying the "Glenn Factor" to his score puts it right about where I've had it. (Plus the one simply stellar bottle that I had at 95...)

I think it's an excellent Port right now that needs more time to ... well, "finish" I guess. I can sort of see what Ed's saying about there being something missing, but my impression was that the something might just be a few years of additional aging. I also agree that it's a tad drier than a typical Graham, but still roughly medium sweet. I think it has the potential to match or possibly even exceed the 1985, but it's really too early to tell. Right now it can't compete, but there's just something in it that's telling me to wait and check back later.
Glenn Elliott
Post Reply