Abundant rainfall at the start of the viticultural year (from November 2014) contributed to the replenishment of soil water reserves. This was crucial due to the very dry winter, spring and summer that followed. Fortunately, what little rain there was came at the right time, in May, and helped to sustain the vines during the very hot and dry months of June and July. August days and nights were relatively cool, encouraging balanced maturations and proving decisive in preserving the natural acidity in the berries. As the vintage began, the crop was in very fine condition and some timely mid-September rain benefited the final stages of ripening. One of the most reliable barometers of a very good year — the fine condition of the Touriga Franca — was in evidence and this variety made up a substantial component of the Graham’s 2015 Late Bottle Vintage.