1980 Graham

Tasting notes for individual Ports, with an index sorted by vintage and alphabetically.
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Tasting notes for individual Ports, with an index sorted by vintage and alphabetically.
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jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
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1980 Graham

Post by jdaw1 »

On Tuesday 31st March 2015 we gathered in the Boot & Flogger for a tasting to say goodbye to Magnus, who is returning to Sweden. The theme was initially ‘Blind and informal’, to which DRT added some birthday 1965s.

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jdaw1
Cockburn 1851
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Re: 1980 Graham

Post by jdaw1 »

G80, from a newly-opened OWC of JDAW’s. Very dark, 80% opaque. Black-fruited big-bodied youth. Needs twenty years.

Note to self: DON’T TOUCH FOR AGES.

The guesses were all youthful: ’95, ’99, ’94, ’00. AHB guessed F85, and Mike — praise be! — knew the vintage. There is no shame in bringing a 35YO Port, but it tasted very young and needs much more time.
PopulusTremula
Warre’s Traditional LBV
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Re: 1980 Graham

Post by PopulusTremula »

True to form, I was nowhere close in guessing this which i had "pegged" as Croft 1995 (intended as Roeda of course).

Dark, closed and something of a brute in the way its components appear to veer off in separate directions. I think Julian's recommendation to leave well alone for 20 years may do something to soften the sheer bone-headedness of this wine and it may well come out the other end as something rather sublime. This wine was not consistent with my only other experience of it, perhaps evidence of the difference between the effects of UK and Oporto storage.
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DRT
Fonseca 1966
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Re: 1980 Graham

Post by DRT »

A much younger profile than its age would suggest. Good Port, but it didn't seem to have the balance that would turn it into great Port with age. Keeping it isn't wrong, but I suspect it is as good as it will get.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
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flash_uk
Graham’s 1977
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Re: 1980 Graham

Post by flash_uk »

60% opacity, dark red. Nose had some slight fruit. In the mouth, sweetness, not too long, mild heat in the middle and then a gentle tannic finish. Tobacco, prunes, peppery. Guessed by me to be W80 - right vintage wrong shipper. I was sure it was 80 and knew it wasn't Dow, Taylor, Fonseca, Smith Woodhouse or Gould Campbell, so that left Warre or Graham (and others). So close!
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Alex Bridgeman
Graham’s 1948
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Re: 1980 Graham

Post by Alex Bridgeman »

Deep red, still youthful in appearance but in the early stages of maturity. Rich and fruity on the nose with lots of youthful cherry - lively and pronounced. On the palate this arrives with rich fruit that is balanced by the bitterness and dryness of dark chocolate; growing nicely in volume. The aftertaste is of youthful fruit, balanced and full of black cherry. This needs more time in the cellar to reach its peak. Served blind this was guessed to be Fonseca 1985. 89/100.
Top Ports in 2023: Taylor 1896 Colheita, b. 2021. A perfect Port.

2024: Niepoort 1900 Colheita, b.1971. A near perfect Port.
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