1963 Graham

[SushiNorth]

Tasted at a vertical of drinkable Graham's Vintage Ports from the past 50 years, held on the ever auspicious Friday the Thirteenth (February 2009) and hosted graciously by jfacciol.
Links: Review; 1960; 1963; 1966; 1970; 1977; 1980; 1983; 1985; 1991; 1994; Planning

[jdaw1]

Graham’s 1963: red, brown at edge, 30% opacity. Nose neither faint nor heavy, with lots of sweet cranberry. To taste good texture and length, very sweet, and lots of red fruit. John rightly said ‟orange peel”. Moses, rightly, thought good acidity. Some vegetable notes. Others but not I found ‟cigar box”. Some, including Moses and Anthony thought it tainted with TCA; others disagreed. Elys thought it nosed of star fruit and a swimming pool.

A controversial wine. My WOTN, and I was not alone. But hated by Moses and Anthony.

[g-man]

Spicy red berries, citrusy orange, that has a burnt match stick smell.

Allspice on the attack, rich full bodied smooth dark chocolate covered red fruits.

There's a slight celery / grassy finish that distracted a little.

I thought this was a very good port.

92.

[SushiNorth]

+9 Nice ruby color with a little brick tinge and very clear. The nose is complex and bright with anise, but a hint of chlorine (elyse). In the nose it is "harshy" with a toasted wood flavor -- more like a cedar than an oak -- and strawberries. It has a medium tail that fades rapidly. There's a lot of life left in the bottle. 91.

[JohninNYC]

In the aroma and taste, I got some white chocolate, orange peel, raspberry, walnuts, and some cigar box on the nose.

[mosesbotbol]

TCA was too overwhelming for me. For sure, I could taste what was behind that, but I wouldn't even score this bottle.