W. & J. Graham's Late Bottled Vintage Port 2020 - in gift tube

Aromas of great purity and freshness, revealing blackberry and blackcurrant with a trace of liquorice, gradually giving way to attractive floral notes of rock rose (cistus) and the signature Graham’s mint and eucalyptus. Sandwiched between the delicious black fruitfl avours is a very appealing hint of exotic fruit, suggesting mango and papaya. Bright and succulent on the palate with peppery tannins providing a touch of seasoning and a wonderful sense of balance. Ends with a lingering note of black tea.

This 2019 Late Bottled Vintage Port was produced from grapes sourced from Graham’s fourvineyard estates located in various prime sites in the mountainous Douro Valley. At Quinta dosMalvedos, Graham’s flagship vineyard, we had some exceptionally well-timed rain at the end ofAugust (22mm), which made a real diff erence two weeks before the vintage was due to start.This compensated for the very dry conditions through most of the spring and summer.

"We had a very dry and mild winter and spring, and by late summer the vines were in need ofwater to keep maturations on track. Fortunately, the virtual absence of rain from Mayto late August was counterbalanced by cooler summer conditions, which attenuated the lack of water. Before the vintage, the Graham’s team experienced fine conditions including some useful rain in late August, which rehydrated the vines. We were blessed with ideal harvest conditions throughout September with clear sunny days bringing moderate temperatures that contributed to balanced ripening. Yields were above the ten-year average, which was most welcome following the exceptionally small years of 2017 and 2018. Expressive aromas, freshness and liveliness, in contrast to the concentration of recent years, are the hallmarks of the 2019 wines."