2011 Graham's Vintage Port

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Christopher B.
Posts: 15
Joined: Sat Feb 22, 2014 5:53 am
Location: Geneva, Switzerland

2011 Graham's Vintage Port

Post by Christopher B. »

I rarely taste port and am more of a table wine drinker, so please bear with me...

I thought it would be interesting to open both a Graham's 2011 Vintage Port and a Fonseca 2011 Vintage Port at the same time before they both close down (should they close down) and this is my wine tasting note (including the French version which I always write first).

From a half-bottle, decanted and tasted immediately and over 8 hours. Nice purple/garnet hued black colour. The bouquet is fascinating with blackcurrants, violets, blueberries, cherries, red currants and cinnamon. Floral touch as well. I can smell the freshness on the nose. Brighter aromas than the Fonseca but similar intensity. On the palate, wow! The attack is fruity with an ethereal intensity that I find extraordinary. Same aromas as on the nose, but with a touch of milk chocolate appearing after about two hours. Good length. Frankly stunning! Nice sweet liqueur, and very sweet in the Graham’s style. No noticeable alcohol. Precise and bright. 97

After 48 hours, similar, if a bit less brightness from dropping acidity. 96


Ouverture d’une demie-bouteille décanté et goûté de suite. Belle robe pourpre/carmin/noir. Bouquet enivrant de cassis, de violettes, de myrtilles, de cerises, de groseille rouge, de framboise et de cannelle. Floral aussi. On sent la fraîcheur du fruit déjà au nez! Plus frais sur le nez que le Fonseca, mais l’intensité est la même. En bouche, waouw! L’attaque a un fruité d’une intensité et un côté éthérée franchement extraordinaire. On y retrouve les mêmes arômes qu’au nez, mais avec une touche de chocolat au lait qui s’y ajoute. Franchement épatant! Une belle liqueur douce, et sucrée dans le style apparent de Graham’s. L’alcool n’est pas perceptible. Brillant et donne une fausse impression de légèreté, car tout en finesse. Gant de velour sur une main de fer. 97

Après 48 heures, similaire si très légèrement moins “brillant” avec une légère chute de l’acidité. 96


I have seen that in many places, port specialists seem to consider them pretty much equal, sometimes preferring Fonseca, sometimes preferring Graham's. For me, though I wanted to prefer Fonseca (as I have a few more bottles of it), I really preferred the Graham's by quite a measure. Perhaps I simply prefer Graham's style or perhaps Fonseca is closing down and is in a difficult stage. Regardless, both were good, but Graham's won for me.
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