96
97
Units in box: 6 x 750 ml
Region: Porto and Douro
Producer: Graham's
Quinta dos Malvedos is the leading wine in this Graham’s Vintage Port, as it has been since 1890. Contributing 35% of the final blend, the Malvedos wines give floral characteristics of eucalyptus and mint, with soft violet overtones. On the taste, Malvedos gives cassis, mulberry and blackberries, all at perfect ripeness, balanced by well-structured tannins. The Malvedos wines are always rich and very ripe, the result of its predominantly south-facing aspect.
Quinta do Tua, with its very old terraced vines that face west, gives tremendous concentration, texture and flavours of black cherries (16% of final blend). Two kilometres downriver, Quinta da Vila Velha (18%) also faces west and brings intense purple-black wines with notes of esteva (rockrose) and violets and flavours of black chocolate. Since the early 20th century, the great Rio Torto vineyard Quinta das Lages has been used to make Graham’s Vintage Ports. Lages brings elegant complexity, concentration and fine violet aromas to the Graham’s 2011 (12%).
Finally, the family has chosen some wines from the very low-yielding and north-facing Quinta do Vale de Malhadas (19%) in the Douro Superior to give sinewy tannins and some fine coffee flavours. The Malhadas wines, the family believes, will contribute to the longevity of the Graham’s 2011, with its firm tannins and concentrated flavours.