GRAHAM'S TAWNY PORTS
DOURO, PORTUGAL
WHY BUY:
This 100-point 50 Year Tawny and 97-point Single Harvest from 1997 are Exhibit A and B of why Graham's stands at the pinnacle of Port-making — or, more accurately, the pinnacle of winemaking itself. Because these are more than great Ports; they're great wines, period: expressions of exceptional beauty, consummate craftsmanship, and deep profundity that showcase the essence of their extraordinary terroir and their patient, meticulous stewardship across the generations. In a world of immediate gratification, they come as sorely needed reminders: some things are worth the wait.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
The esteemed Port writer Richard Mayson, a regular contributor to Decanter, lavished the 50 Year Tawny with a perfect 100-point score, calling it "spellbindingly uplifting on the nose" and "gloriously rich" with "a graceful finish that seems to go on forever." He found himself especially moved by "its overall delicacy, finesse, and perfect poise," concluding that "there can be only one mark for a wine with this provenance and caliber." James Suckling was nearly as taken with the 97-point 1997 Single Harvest, praising its "salted caramel, salted almonds, dried blood orange, saffron and dried flowers" profile and "beautiful texture with full body and delicate sweetness." He went on to note its "deep and generous" character and "long and firm but rich finish" with "lots of butterscotch" and a density that lingers.
OUR TASTING NOTES:
The 50 Year Tawny captivated us immediately with its deep orange-brown color and that telltale pale green rim — the signature of exceptional age and quality. Its nose unfolded generously, offering layers of orange blossom, fruitcake, toffee, tobacco, and butterscotch. Rich and creamy on the palate, it maintained perfect balance through vibrant acidity. What lingered most were those enchanting notes of seasoned wood, nutmeg, and cinnamon, with a finish that — gloriously, confoundingly — refused to fade. The 1997 Single Harvest provided a fascinating counterpoint. We loved its aromatic profile, rich with vanilla, soft caramel, honey, raisins, and — most exquisite of all — a wonderful note of bittersweet orange marmalade. We were particularly struck by how the bright red fruit flavors remained fresh and vital despite 25+ years in cask, while a subtle and savory undercurrent — a blend of walnuts, tea, and tobacco — had us reaching for just one more sip.
THE STORY:
This Port power traces its roots back to 1820, when a couple of savvy Scottish trading families recognized the Douro Valley's perfect terroir for fortified wine and purchased plots that remain part of Graham's holdings. Today, the company’s reputation is not just established, but secured: the maker of some of the most sophisticated, most enduring Ports money can buy, thanks in large part to its obsessive, fanatically detailed focus on quality. Not even the devastation of the phylloxera crisis, which saw many other Port houses collapse, dimmed its star. Graham's tenaciously replanted and rebounded, determinedly upholding an unbroken 200-year tradition of wine-making mastery that reaches its apex in bottles like these.
THE METHOD:
The profound character and complexity of Graham's wines is achieved through decades of careful maturation in oak casks, where slow oxidation concentrates flavors while imparting subtle woody notes. The 1997 Single Harvest represents another facet of Graham's expertise: rather than being bottled young as Vintage Port, these exceptional casks were set aside for their potential to develop into something extraordinary through patient maturation.
WHAT TO PAIR THEM WITH:
These extraordinary tawny Ports are perhaps best savored on their own as contemplative after-dinner sippers, but they also make for some pretty magical pairings. The 50 Year Old is a sublime match for aged hard cheeses like Comté or aged Gouda, or a Basque cheesecake. The 1997 Single Harvest pairs beautifully with crème brûlée, almond-based pastries, or dark chocolate with sea salt. Served them slightly chilled (around 55-60°F) to bring out their fullness of expression.
FUN FACT:
The unique color of these aged tawny Ports — that signature amber-orange hue with a greenish rim — is entirely natural and comes from decades of slow oxidation in wooden casks. Unlike ruby Ports which maintain their deep red color in bottle, tawny Ports gradually transform in cask, developing their characteristic color, not to mention their intricate and intense flavors. That pale green rim is considered by Port experts to be one of the hallmarks of exceptional quality and age.
OUR GUARANTEE:
As always, we only buy and ship directly from the producer, to ensure that every bottle arrives with pristine provenance. Secure your bottles today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Summer 2025. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer not valid in KS, LA, MI, MO, NE, NY, OK, or TN. This offer will expire on Sunday, April 27th, 2025.