This wine is going through a dumb period at the moment [writing in 1990].  It is closed and not giving much on the palate.  It is still a big, hard and tightly knit wine.  Deep purple-ruby with intense floral, cassis and prune aromas, full-bodied, with plenty of fruit and extremely hard tannins. Built for ageing.

Graham is another great port house, producing one of the deepest-colored and sweetest styles of vintage port. Along with Taylor and Fonseca, Graham has probably been the most consistent producer of great port in the post- World War II era. Their tawnys are quite good rather than exceptional, but their vintage ports are truly sublime and sumptuous.

This was never a great Graham, but it's outstanding quality nonetheless. Medium ruby-red. Aromas of milk chocolate, plum, mint and violet. Full-bodied, with medium sweetness and lots of berry and cherry fruit. Very fruity and fresh. Long and lively. Delicious now, but will improve. '77/'85/'97 blind Port retrospective. Drink now through 2018. — JS