Grahams 2020 Bicentenary Edition Vintage Port 3x 75cl

Graham's 2020 Vintage Port, Bicentenary Edition, 3x 75cl

Symington Family Estates:

The 2020 vintage was the smallest harvest this century and produced incredibly concentrated, well-structured, dark wines in very low quantities – with the most outstanding wines originating from the Cima Corgo sub-region of the Douro. We have chosen to do an exceptional bottling and limited release of two special edition Vintage Ports from Graham’s and Warre’s – drawn exclusively from a few of the best performing parcels from their estates in the Cima Corgo. These special Vintage Ports mark the historic milestones in 2020 of Graham’s 200th anniversary and Warre’s 350th anniversary.

Harvest: 

In 2020, the Douro experienced the hottest July on record, with temperatures recorded at 3.5°C above the average. The region saw heat waves in June, August, and September which registered multi-day heat spikes above the 30-year average maximum temperatures. As a result, yields were substantially reduced compared to our July forecasts – around 40% down at some of our estates. The harvest itself was unlike any other in recent memory. Grape varieties that usually ripen sequentially needed to be picked at the same time – most noticeably, the Touriga Nacional with the typically late ripening Touriga Franca. Drawing on our family’s multi-generational knowledge of our estates, we adapted to the conditions and harvested the grapes with precision. We picked parcels by their altitude and cooler-facing aspects, and co-fermented varieties together. After reviewing the top wines from our finest estates across the Douro, it was clear that the Cima Corgo produced wines of extraordinary quality in minute quantities. We have therefore decided to do an exceptional bottling of two limited edition Vintage Ports from Graham’s and Warre’s – celebrating their respective 200th and 350th anniversaries in 2020.

The Wine:

Graham’s 2020 Vintage Port is drawn from high altitude and north-west facing vines across three of Graham’s four estates – Quinta dos Malvedos (55%), Quinta da Vila Velha (25%), & Quinta do Tua (20%). This Vintage Port is a unique blend of co-fermented Touriga Nacional & Touriga Franca | co-fermented Sousão & Touriga Nacional (from the prized Stone Terraces at Malvedos) | Old mixed vines (field blend) | Alicante Bouschet. The result is an extraordinarily opulent, intense, and fresh Vintage Port. While it has the classic Graham’s hallmarks, the wine is marked by a unique aromatic complexity and beautifully layered fruit.

Tasting Note: This wine reveals extraordinary aromatic scope, ranging from exotic açaí berry fruit and typical traces of mint which are very much a Malvedos hallmark. There are also suggestions of fresh pine and orange blossom, delivering a sensation of great freshness. On the palate there are layers of bright, concentrated black fruits (blackcurrant and blackberry) wrapped in a seductive robe of opulence and charm. Quite irresistible.

"The 2020 Vintage Port is a blend of 25% Touriga Nacional, 40% Touriga Franca, 22% Sousão and various others, including a blend from old vines. It comes in with 118 grams of residual sugar after 18 months in old oak vats. This likely got a little extra incentive in terms of its declaration because of Graham's bicentenary, but it is a pretty good offering. Sweet and easy, this comes into a good place with just a couple of hours of aeration. It opens disjointed and angular, then resolves into a lovely Port with great fruit and good supporting structure. This needs some time. It should develop more and improve. When it gets to where it is going, it is going to be delicious. Let's start here, but plan on cellaring this. There were 3,000 bottles made in this bicentenary limited edition."

94/100 points, Mark Squires, WINE ADVOCATE, August 2022