Grahams Tawny Port – New Packaging

At Fareham Wine Cellar we stock Grahams Tawny Ports as out 20, 30 and 40 year old Tawny Port of choice. However, we stock the Niepoort 10 year old as our 10 year old Tawny Port – its a long story.

Sometime in 2012, Grahams repackaged their Tawny Port range into to some smart new packaging with newly commissioned bottles and labels. All three Ports now come in new gift tubes with the 30 and 40 year old presented in faux leather tubes with wooden lids that  look great and will make ideal presents. At the same time as the product revamp the blends were all tweaked slightly. One of my customers was inquiring about “Graham’s port in a leather box, so I thought I would take a few quick photographs. Better late than never! I think the new packaging is a great improvement.

Grahams Tawny Port New Packaging

As I mentioned, with the relaunch of the Tawny ranged the blends were also tweaked. The Ports still retain the traditional style of Grahams Tawny Ports and are still made using the same wines that are quietly aging away in Graham’s 1890 lodge, but fourth generation winemaker and blender, Charles Symington, has worked on the blends so that they further develop the wines’ secondary flavours. Symington is also aiming for more refined tannins and balance to give a good, fresh palate and avoiding excess sweetness. This has been achieved by making use of some of their greatest assets – their large stocks of old Grahams Tawny Ports and a good selection of seasoned oak cask, some of which are over 100 years old. Only wines aged in the cooler climate of the company’s lodge at Vila Nova de Gaia (next to the Atlantic) are used, rather than those aged in the intense summer heat of the Douro Valley. There are only limited quanities of these Ports available, particularly the 30 and 40 year olds.

Grahams Tawny Port Tasting Notes – from Grahams Website

Grahams 20 Years Old Tawny – Amber, golden tawny colour . On the nose it shows an excellent bouquet  with a characteristic “utty” character and delicious mature fruit with hints of orange peel, exquisitely mellowed by careful ageing. Rich, softly sweet and smooth. It is perfectly balanced, with a long and elegant finish. Enjoy slightly chilled or pairs extremely well with nuts, dried fruits and fruitcake and also vanilla ice cream or crème brûlée.

Grahams 30 Years Old Tawny – Light, orange-tinted amber colour. Magnificent nose showing an array of dried fruits. A mature, concentrated palate with full honeyed fruit. Gorgeously mellow, with an amazing, long finish. A fabulous  accompaniment to dark chocolate but can a also be enjoyed alone as a dessert in its own right.

Grahams 40 Year Old Tawny – Golden amber colour, with a pale green tinge at the rim, denoting great age. Very complex with a powerful fragrance that belies its age. An array of flavours, from delicate fruit and raisins to toasted toffee and chocolate with an outstanding aftertaste. A fabulous accompaniment to dark chocolate but can also be enjoyed alone, as a dessert in its own right.