The 2003 is a classic Graham’s Vintage Port and one of the finest that we have made this century. Now with 19 years of bottle age, the Symington family have decided to launch a limited Library Release of Graham’s 2003 Vintage Port directly from their cellars. These bottles have aged in the perfect conditions of the Vintage Port cellars at the Graham’s Lodge, which benefits from the temperate climate defined by the proximity of the Atlantic Ocean. This Vintage Port has matured beautifully with age, revealing aromatic complexity and seductive black fruit flavours. It is very enjoyable to drink now, whilst retaining considerable ageing potential.

The year was notable for its particularly hot summer interspersed by bouts of rain. In June, a spell of very hot weather caused many immature bunches to dry up altogether, with a useful thinning of the overall crop, which could otherwise have been quite large. Fortunately, with plentiful reserves of ground water (after a very wet winter) there was little evidence of the vines suffering from excessive hydric stress. The high temperatures recorded in August that caused such problems with overripeness in other winegrowing areas of Europe were not unusual for the Douro. Nevertheless, yields were quite low in many of the best areas of the region, limiting the supply of vintage port quality grapes. By the time picking began at Malvedos, Vila Velha and Vale de Malhadas on September 15th, there had been a little rain and most grapes were in perfect condition, with no signs of any heat damage. What was remarkable at Malvedos this year was the ripeness of the Touriga Franca, which achieved an almost record 14.5° baumé.