Grahams 50 Year Old Tawny Port

Description

Grahams 50 Year Old Tawny Port was first launched in 2024. This will make a fantastic 50th birthday present and is packaged in a very smart, green, wooden gift box. The category of 50 Year Old Tawny Port (and 50 Year Old White Port) was first introduced in 2022. Before this, the oldest Tawny Port classification was 40 Year Old.

W & J Graham’s Port was founded in 1820 in Oporto, Portugal’s second-largest city, by brothers William and John Graham. For nearly two centuries, the production of Graham’s Ports has remained in the hands of just two families: the Grahams and the Symingtons. In 1970, the Graham family sold the company to the Symingtons, who brought their own rich legacy in the Port trade. The exceptional quality and esteemed reputation of Graham’s Ports are built on the finest grapes, primarily sourced from five renowned Quintas in the Douro Valley: Quinta dos Malvedos, Quinta do Tua, Quinta das Lages, and two privately owned by the Symington family—Quinta da Vila Velha and Quinta do Vale de Malhadas.

The creation of Grahams 50 Year Old Tawny Port has been overseen by two generations of Master Blenders—Peter Symington and his son Charles. This exquisite Port reflects the unmatched craftsmanship and commitment that has gone into ageing and perfecting the wines in this blend. Many of the wines used were among the first made by the Symington family after acquiring Graham’s in 1970, underscoring the deep connection between family tradition and winemaking excellence.

Two of the wine’s component lots have particular significance, the first is a wine from
1969 known as ‘CAS Reserve’, which was originally set aside by Peter Symington to mark the birth of his son, Charles, whose initials give it its name. The second is comprised of wines from 1970 and 1973. Blended in 1982, over 50% has evaporated throughout the ensuing decades, resulting in astonishing concentration.

“This 50 Year Old Tawny Port is of particular significance to us as the blend is comprised of some of the first wines made by our family after the acquisition of Graham’s in 1970. Blending a wine that was originally set aside by my father to commemorate the year in which I was born feels particularly poignant. I am extremely proud of this 50 Year Old, it has the exceptional concentration and complexity that can only be achieved by prolonged wood ageing.” Charles Symington, Winemaker.

Each bottle is presented in a very smart dark green, wooden box. Each box is carefully lined with wallpaper and panelling on the back, which helps to create a familiar sense of home and is reminiscent of British interior design dating back to the 16th century. The illustrations, designed by Portuguese illustrator, Mariana Rodrigues, reflect some of the rarer flora and fauna found in the Douro Valley – a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001.