Graham’s Fine Tawny Port

Graham's Fine Tawny Port is made by W. and J. Graham in the Douro Valley of northern Portugal, a house founded in 1820 and owned by the Symington family since 1970. It is a blend built on native grapes including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Amarela and Alicante Bouschet, grown on the steep slate and schist terraces of the upper Douro. As with all port, fermentation is stopped with grape spirit while sugar remains, raising strength to around 19 percent. What sets a tawny apart is the ageing. The wine matures in seasoned oak casks, where slow contact with oxygen through the wood gradually fades the deep red to amber and develops cooked fruit and nutty character in place of the fresh berry of a young port. Blending across casks of different ages keeps the house style consistent. The colour is amber with a tawny rim. The nose balances the fruit of a younger port with walnut and dried fig from the wood ageing. The palate is smooth, persistent and gently sweet, with caramel and roasted nut on the finish. Serve lightly chilled at 12 to 14 degrees. It pairs well with nut tarts, dried fruit and hard cheese.