Graham’s launches 1972 single harvest port

Graham’s is launching individually numbered bottles of its 1972 single harvest port. This was the first wine selected for ageing as a dated tawny port by Peter Symington following the family’s acquisition of Graham’s in 1970.

Over 60% of the original wine has gradually evaporated after more than 40 years of maturing in seasoned oak casks in the Graham’s Lodge. The decision to bottle this beautifully concentrated 1972 tawny port was taken by Peter’s son Charles, who has cared for the wine since his father’s retirement in 2009, and who is head of winemaking at the family company.

Peter Symington said of the Graham’s 1972 Single Harvest:  “I selected this small parcel from the 1972 vintage and from the very oldest vines, then over 80 years old. I watched this wine age in the Graham’s cellars for many years before handing over the responsibility to Charles.”

This exceptional port has a burnished golden colour with an intense aroma of dried fruits and orange peel. Many of the casks used to mature the port are over 100 years old and have been cared for by the Graham’s coopers, led by master cooper Emilio Oliveira.

The packaging design
The packaging for the port was conceived and designed by Symington design manager Alexandra Ribeiro with the objective to create a hand-crafted premium and unique presentation that reflects the values of craftsmanship and brand identity as well as the innate qualities of the wine itself.

The Graham’s 1972 Single Harvest was designed in line with the Graham’s aged tawnies range, driving consistency of image.

The presentation tube was produced by a Portuguese company with a long history of bespoke jewelry cases (AÉME). The terracotta colour links perfectly with the golden amber of the wine that has been slowly maturing in wooden casks. This colour also suggests the honeyed and citrus properties of the wine. The solid wooden top and metal ring gives the tube a strong presence.

Each bottle carries a certificate introducing the concept and story behind this limited release and a tasting note on the wine.

The label is Graham’s unique and distinctive bin label shape; labels are hand numbered and signed by Charles Symington, Graham’s head winemaker.

“The design is a development of the successful Graham’s aged tawnies range and presents the specific qualities and individuality of the single harvest wines selected from numbered casks.

The Graham’s policy of only selecting the very best casks for bottling reflects the search for excellence that is overriding in the brand philosophy. The labels are individually numbered with each cask and bottle number. Charles Symington selected just 9 casks of the Graham’s 1972 single harvest producing 712 bottles each,” Dominic Symington told The Drinks Report.

RRP £215.00 per bottle. Stockists include Hedonism, Bordeaux Index, Berry Brothers & Rudd,

13 July 2015 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor