There was a clear brown colour with an amber rim. The nose was noticeably rich combining honey scents with oak. Tasting revealed a really full bodied and long lasting port that was quite sweet but it needed to be to carry all those deep rich and complex oak flavours. In addition there was burnt orange, dried fruits and hazelnut present. This is a port to indulge on those special occasions when you need to spoil yourself a wee bit.
Graham's Six Grapes Vila Velha Special Edition
There was a very deep ruby colour with a purple tinge at the rim. The nose was plummy but also there were hints of garden herb scents present. Tasting revealed a full bodied sweet and fruity wine. The fruit was tempered with a good bit of spice giving a satisfying finish. There was quite a lot of tannin present so I am guessing this had had around 5 to 6 years of aging. I can understand where it is coming from being a big fan of the standard six grapes offering. However to me it was reminiscent of sampling young vintage port so I do wonder what would happen if you gave it another 10 years in the bottle.
Graham's Single Harvest Tawny 1997 Bottled In 2023
The colour was a clear brownish amber with lots of dried fruit notes on the nose. Tasting revealed quite a slight flavour. I know colheita ports usually have more finesse than those of deliminated age being unblended but I was expecting more character from this offering. Yes the dried fruits and oak were there but it was all a bit too subtle for my liking. Knowing the huge stocks of tawny port that Graham's hold I am sure there will be releases to come that are more to my expectations.
Graham's 20 Year Old Port Bottled In 2025
This had a moderate tawny colour mixing amber with deeper brown elements. There was also a hint of residual redness. The nose was sweet and oaky. On tasting a full bodied port was revealed which was long lasting in mouth. The sweetness allowed a harmonious expression of citrus fruits, dried fruits, nuts and dry oak.
We recently tried the Graham's 30 year old at twice the price of this 20 year old. I can only conclude by saying that the 20 year old stacks up well so if you want a real treat bag yourself two bottles of 20 year old instead of one 30 year old.
Warre's Otima Colheita 2013 Bottled In 2022
Clear deep reddish brown colour with sweet oak on the nose. This port was sweet with subtle flavours of oak, citrus fruits, and dried fruits. It had the typical finesse of a colheita after only 9 years in oak so one wonders how the 2013 will come along over the years. It has enough sweetness to cope with a longer and larger contribution from the wood.
Dow's 1994 Vintage Port
Very deep ruby colour with fruit and spice on the nose. This was quite dry in character so spiciness was to the fore with just a hint of fruit. Personally not my favourite style of vintage port but that is subjective.
This was described as a "Library Release" meaning that it had been aged by the producer with great care and recorking as necessary. Having had some duff bottles of vintage port over the years I can see buying one of these means you're more likely to get something as the producer intended it to be compared with buying a bottle that has been goodness knows where. I do have some bottles of vintage port laid down that I bought soon after their release so I know where they have been. I also notice that the price per bottle doesn't change a lot over the years so, if I exhaust my stocks, I'll be looking for Library Releases for my current drinking.
Warre's Quinta da Cavadinha Vintage Port 2010
Deep ruby colour with a fruity nose. This port was rich with jammy fruit flavours and quite plummy in the mouth. It had quite a light character without the depth one usually finds in a Vintage Port. It is quite drinkable now after only 15 years of aging.
Dow's Late Bottled Vintage 2020
Deep red colour with a plummy nose. This was a rich and fruity port with a hint of softness. Fruit and spice flavour elements were pleasantly balanced.
