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On Tuesday 14th May 2024, as arranged by Martin C., at the Boot & Flogger, some of the obvious suspects tasted a vertical of Graham.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• Tasting notes:
  • 1942 Graham;
  • 1945 Graham;
  • 1948 Graham;
  • 1955 Graham;
  • 1960 Graham;
  • 1963 Graham;
  • 1966 Graham;
  • 1970 Graham;
  • 1975 Graham;
  • 1977 Graham;
  • 1980 Graham;
  • 1983 Graham;
  • 1985 Graham;
  • 1991 Graham;
  • 1994 Graham;
  • 1997 Graham;
  • 2000 Graham;
  • 2003 Graham;
• The placemats;
• Planning and arrangements.

Audouze’d: opened 19:30 Monday. Cork pictures follow.

A rich ruby (not garnet). My notes were getting scrappier by this point but I have written 'a little lifeless compared to the 1983'.

G85: opened 19:30 previous day, decanted 07:30 that morning. glorious red, 50% opaque. Showed very well, mid weight, with lots of lovely red fruit. Not huge. Junior to the TFP’s big-two 1985s. Nonetheless, I liked this a lot.

Graham 1985. Dark red with some maturity in the tone; 70% opaque. Attractive nose, no more mature than the 1983 but still bright and attractive. Sweet on the palate with honeyed fruit. Very smooth, very ripe fruit with a good grip and a little menthol heat. Some heat on the finish before the bramble fruit appears. Reserved, but delicious. 90/100. Audouzed at 19.30, double decanted at 07.30 and tasted at 20.00.

G85. Medium to medium light red with garnet overtones - seems lighter than it should be. Slightly sour nose that displays predominantly red fruit. Luckily it tastes better than it looks and smells, but this still does not seem like a proper bottle. Smooth, ripe red fruit backed up by ripe purple fruit to give it some depth. 94 points. And yes, that's an "off" bottle - I would expect these to be at least 95 points with 97 not out of the question. These usually sing for me.

55% opacity, dark red. Rich and concentrated bramble nose. Full mouthfeel, gentle heat, rich and chewy, blackcurrants.