2017 LBV Port, Graham's Late Bottle Vintage

Graham’s 2017 LBV has a lovely honeysuckle fragrance as well as hints of mint, which is often present in Graham’s wines. In the background, there are also some attractive, bright tropical fruit notes. Typically Graham’s on the palate with sumptuous ripe black fruit flavours combining with hints of kirsch. The fine-grained tannins give the wine balance and structure, whilst good acidity underscores the wine’s freshness.

2017 was the second driest year on record in the Douro and the hottest of the last four decades. Between March and September, the cumulative rainfall deficit reached 47% at Quinta dos Malvedos. The dry, mild winter was followed by a hot spring, with seasonal temperatures 36.7°F (2.6°C) above the average. However, the resilient Douro grape varieties adjusted early on to the exceptionally dry conditions that prevailed from the outset of the year. Unsurprisingly, the precocity of the year’s vegetative cycle resulted in the earliest vintage ever recorded, the picking at Malvedos beginning on August 28th. The heat abated a little during September, especially nocturnal temperatures, a highly beneficial situation reflected in the very high quality of the grapes received in the winery. The outcome of the vintage surpassed all expectations.