Thanksgiving Port

Steve Saxon · Post by **Steve Saxon** » Tue Nov 22, 2005 4:09 pm

What's drinking well now? My choices are:
1970 Grahams
1977 Grahams
1977 Dow
1985 Grahams

Your choice and decanting time.
Thanks

Al B. · Post by **Al B.** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 1:37 am

Steve,

How can you make a choice between those!

The 1970 Grahams we drank at the London offline, so there are three sets of recent tasting notes on that thread. Its a great wine.

The '85 Grahams is a smashing wine, but needs lots of decanting time before it hits its peak.

I've not tried either of the '77s but have the '77 Grahams in my cellar so I would be very interested to know what other people think of this one.

Roy also has some notes on the Dow 77 and rates it very highly.

Alex

alec · Post by **alec** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 8:30 am

What's for dessert?

I think it depends on whether you plan to pair it with something or have it on it's own.

Our dessert this year is going to be poached pears with vanilla sauce. That doesn't really call for Port, so I'm going to match it with either a Sauterrne, TBA, or Tokaji. I'd love to try a Tokay Pinot Gris from Alsace, but I dunno if I can find one in time.

If you want the wine to drive the food you could pair a Grahams with some kind of stinky cheese for the token Port/Cheese pairing. If it were me, though, I'd do the '85 Grahams with a New York Style cheesecake. The '85s seem relatively inexpensive to replace and the combo of vintage port and cheesecake is insane. It might also go well with a flourless chocolate cake.

If you don't plan to pair it with food, then go for the older, more intriguing Grahams. (1970)

My 2 cents. Happy Thanksgiving!
--A

Richard Henderson · Post by **Richard Henderson** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 9:13 pm

I would choose the 77 Graham. I think when Roy weighs in, the 77 Graham is not his favorite. We have had some friendly excahnges debating this port which he says is flawed. I like it but he has had me seeing flaws where I did not see them before.
I still like it and would ask that you open it and post your notes.

Frederick Blais · Post by **Frederick Blais** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 9:45 pm

I've only tasted the Dow's 1977 from this list. I agree that this is a beautiful wine, the bouquet is just like opening a bottle of perfume. The wine is mature though the fruit is still young and so fresh and silky, pure grace.

If you open this one, 3-6hrs decanting is reasonnable.

Fred

Steve Saxon · Post by **Steve Saxon** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 3:32 pm

I went with the 77 Dow. I'll take Roy's advice and taste periodicly from the decanter. TN's later.