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I know very little about port, except that I really like it and I've had the occasional very good glass and was once given one very good bottle.

With my 50th birthday approaching I've just ordered a bottle of the 1969 Graham's Single Harvest.

I have some questions!

1. Can I really leave it till 2019 to drink? How should I store it?

2. Can I drink it now?

3. Is it really worth the £220 I paid for it?

4. Why do there appear to be two different cases and bottles that it comes in? Which will I get?

5. Has anyone else bought one? What did they think of their purchase?

Hi, and welcome to

Given that you have said "I know very little about port", apologies in advance if I'm telling you things you already know when I include some basic information in the replies below. Hopefully you're aware of the different styles of port, and that Graham's 1969 Single Harvest is a Tawny port (as opposed to ruby-style: LBV or vintage port).

profmatt wrote:1. Can I really leave it till 2019 to drink? How should I store it?

Some people suggest that tawny ports are at their best for 2-3yrs after bottling, others believe that a few years in the bottle can even improve the port. The typical view is that a tawny port will change very little in the bottle if well stored, since it is already well-oxidised; Personally I would have no problem with holding on to this port to 2019.

Regarding storage, a cool (12-14degree), dark and constant temperature with reasonable humidity are generally ideal storage conditions for port; As this a tawny port I would expect that less ideal conditions would be better tolerated (whereas poor conditions will damage vintage port, Tawny is less susceptible again due to it already being heavily oxidised); one of our Tawny experts can chime in better on this.

profmatt wrote:2. Can I drink it now?

Absolutely.

profmatt wrote:3. Is it really worth the £220 I paid for it?

It is certainly a good tawny, and you have paid the standard market price for it. "Is it worth it" is difficult to answer since it is a very individual question, and may depend on particular preference, the meaning of years, available alternatives etc; in the end we each have to make our own value judgements.

profmatt wrote:4. Why do there appear to be two different cases and bottles that it comes in? Which will I get?

I've only seen one style to date, as here; If you do receive something else (if they have done another more recent bottling in different bottle/label) please do post/send me an image; I notice that Graham's latest LBV is bottled in a different style bottle/label to previous years, so perhaps the style may have been updated.

I hope you thoroughly enjoy the bottle whenever you decide to open it

Thanks for your very quick and detailed response. Very helpful

I've seen two presentations of the port online:

https://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/540/port_gra1969.jpg

and

http://www.grahams-port.com/static/7274 ... arvest.jpg

I really hope I get the first one. I much prefer the shape of the bottle and the colour of the box.

I cannot disagree with anything Phil has said, I personally think that these styles of port are fully priced and you may well find more bang for your buck elsewhere. Having said that I am not a huge fan of this style of port. As an aside these ports do not need long decant times if they have been recently bottled, if you are thinking of keeping them for years it is worth decanting them several hours ahead. There are those who know and love these ports better than me who may wish to disagree.

profmatt wrote:Thanks for your very quick and detailed response. Very helpful

I've seen two presentations of the port online:

https://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/540/port_gra1969.jpg

and

http://www.grahams-port.com/static/7274 ... arvest.jpg

I really hope I get the first one. I much prefer the shape of the bottle and the colour of the box.

Where have you ordered from? Perhaps you could send your supplier a link to the Graham's website and specify that you want this one?

profmatt wrote:I've seen two presentations of the port online:

https://img.thewhiskyexchange.com/540/port_gra1969.jpg

and

http://www.grahams-port.com/static/7274 ... arvest.jpg

I really hope I get the first one. I much prefer the shape of the bottle and the colour of the box.

The first is the one I have had (which also matches the 1961sht which came before it (though I've never tasted the '61); I've not seen the second before. If this is real (I notice the source is the Graham's website, so it might be, or could be a mock-up) then it would suggest that there is a revised design (perhaps due to further release after success with the first batch) which is more in line with the bottle, tube and stopper designs for the 30yr/40yr tawny (likely sharing elements such as tube top for production practicalities).

I guess I'll have to wait and see, though the photograph of the bottle PhilW posted seems like a combination of the two styles. It doesn't have the straight neck of the bottle in the red-tube picture.

(First World, problems, eh? "Oh no. My 50 year old port comes in a bottle whose shape I don't really like.")