Graham’s LBV 2020

Graham's draw this Late Bottled Vintage from a single 2020 harvest, blending Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Alicante Bouschet and Tinta Amarela. The fruit comes from the steep schist terraces of the Douro Valley, where stony, heat-retaining soils and hot dry summers concentrate sugar and colour in the small berries. Fermentation is stopped early with grape spirit, the step that makes Port sweet and strong by leaving unfermented sugar and raising the alcohol while preserving the dark fruit. As an LBV the wine matured in oak for four to six years before bottling, longer than a Vintage Port spends in cask. That extended ageing softens the tannins and rounds the fruit while the wine keeps its deep ruby colour and the ripe character of the single vintage. Expect a dense palate of ripe plum, black cherry, dried fig and dark chocolate, with raisin, liquorice and a peppery, spiced lift over a warming base. Serve lightly chilled at around 16C in a small glass. It is built for strong cheese, dark chocolate and rich meat at the end of a meal.