Graham's launches 50 Year Old Tawny Port

Graham’s Port has unveiled its 50 Year Old Tawny Port, an exquisite blend that joins the 40 Year Old as part of Graham’s prestigious Aged Tawny Collection.

Carefully watched over by two generations of Master Blenders – Peter Symington and his son, Charles, – Graham’s 50 Year Old Tawny Port is a testament to the unparalleled craftsmanship and dedication that has gone into nurturing the wines that comprise this blend. These wines were among the very first produced by the Symington family after acquiring Graham’s in 1970.

Charles Symington, Head Winemaker and Master Blender, selected two main components for the 50 Year Old blend. The first is a wine from 1969 known as 'CAS Reserve', which was originally set aside by Peter Symington to mark Charles’ birth, giving the wine his initials. The second is comprised of wines from 1970 and 1973, which were blended in 1982. Since being set aside for long-term ageing, these wines have lost over 50% to evaporation, resulting in astonishing concentration.

Graham’s 50 Year Old Tawny Port has a captivating deep orange-brown hue, framed by a dark walnut base and a pale green rim. It has complex aromas with layers of orange blossom, fruitcake and butterscotch, creating a balanced and concentrated sensory experience. The mouthfeel is substantial, rich and creamy with vibrant acidity, enchanting notes of seasoned wood, nutmeg, and cinnamon, and a lingering finish that endures on the palate.

The presentation of the Aged Tawny Collection is inspired by the age and scarcity of each of the 40 and 50 Year Old Tawny Ports. The illustrations, designed by Portuguese illustrator, Mariana Rodrigues, reflect some of the rarer flora and fauna found in the Douro Valley – a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. Each wine’s wooden box, carefully lined with wallpaper and panelling on the back, helps to create a familiar sense of home and is reminiscent of British interior design dating back to the 16th century.

Charles Symington, a member of the fourth generation of the Symington family and Head Winemaker, said, “This 50 Year Old Tawny Port is of particular significance to us as the blend is comprised of some of the first wines made by our family after the acquisition of Graham’s in 1970. Blending a wine that was originally set aside by my father to commemorate the year in which I was born feels particularly poignant. I am extremely proud of this 50 Year Old, it has the exceptional concentration and complexity that can only be achieved by prolonged wood ageing.”