For The Love Of Port

First bottle from a case of 12 purchased this month from Seckford Wines, all in perfect condition in owc.

On Decanting
Dark purple red with a pink rim. Huge liquorice aroma that (for my nose) is typical Graham's. No heat in the first sip but then the bottle only came out of the cooler 20 minutes ago so still rather cold. Very subdued at this point, again possibly due to temperature.

3 Hours
Slightly cloudy in the glass, probably due to rushed standing/decanting but not enough to spoil. Big strawberry and chocolate smell. Huge burst of fruit followed by cheek sucking tannins then a long dry finish. Mouth feel is very thick, you could almost chew this wine! There is an unmistakeable "young port" smell. I have only picked this up previously on bottles less than 5 years old.

15 Hours
No longer cloudy. A small amount of sediment is lying around the bottom of the decanter so bad decanting was the problem. Young port smell has blown off, now blackcurrant. Strawberry jam taste and tannins seem to have softened considerably. Very smooth now with a long fruity finish. Still no heat showing at any stage. By far the best showing out of the 3 so far.

28 Hours
Soft and smooth blackcurrent but then a slight bitterness and small amount of heat in the finish. Seems to be passed the peak.

54 Hours
Big fruit hit on the nose in the decanter - marzipan in the glass. Chocolate and cherry has returned and mouth feel seems to have become thicker again. No bitterness or heat. Good long finish. Very satisfying.



15 hours was definately the best followed by 54 hours. I can't remember what I had been eating just before the 28 hour tasting but it may explain the blip.

Best of all, I have 11 more bottles 8)

Derek

Always fun to experiment. I bought my 1991s on futures and it was the first vintage that I had ever tried that method of purchase. I paid between $21 for the Warre's and up to $26 for the Vargellas at the time. Coincidentally, I just bought 2 Mags of the Vargellas 1991 last week but had to pay a hefty $90 ea. Still worthy buying.

As to the Graham's, sadly in my recent tasting of the vertical from 2003 to 1945 there was no 1991 included, so it has been at least two years now since I have had it. It was a very good wine last time I had it and as an infant it was gorgeous and balanced and right at the very top of all '91s with Vargellas.

Nice notes.
Didn't you post asking for notes on the 91 Graham's regarding the purchase of this case?
Glad to see you bought it. We are sitting on 6 bottles ourselves.

Richard,

Yes, this is the one I asked for notes on before buying. I'm glad I went ahead as I'm sure this case will give me a lot of pleasure over the next few years.

Roy, not sure what this is selling for in the USA but I got this case for £220 plus tax

Derek

Derek,
Thanks for the tasting notes! I recently purchased some Graham's '91 and I found it interesting that the "peak" was around 15 hours. I'll be sure to give this particular wine plenty of decanter time!

Marc

My '91 Graham's is in half bottles, but it sounds like a few more years may still be in order.
Thanks for the very interesting note re development over time.
Charles

For those who have had both the '91 Graham's and the '91 Vargellas, which would you open now if you had to open one?

'91 Graham's