Symington Family Estates, producers of some of the finest Ports in the world for five generations and owners of the renowned Port brand W & J Graham’s, is pleased to announce that for the first time in its 200-year history, Graham’s Port will be releasing an 80 Year Old Tawny Port, following the category’s introduction by the IVDP (Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto, the government entity responsible for regulating the quality and quantity of Port and Douro wines) in January.
This remarkable wine was blended last year by Symington Family Estates’ Co-CEO & Head Winemaker, Charles Symington (4th generation), to mark the 80th birthday of his father and predecessor, Peter Symington (3rd generation) and to celebrate his distinguished career. Such was its profound allure, quality, and depth of character that the decision was taken to release it on a limited basis.
Dating back to the Second World War, Graham’s 80 Year Old Tawny Port is a mesmerizing wine with seductive aromas of walnuts, treacle, coffee, and dried figs. Its creamy palate is simultaneously smooth and concentrated with sumptuous layers of soft caramel, mandarin orange, praline, and vanilla. A seemingly endless finish offers subtle notes of tobacco and black tea, while its discreet acidity provides remarkable freshness, grace, and balance.
The 80 Year Old joins Graham’s prestigious Aged Tawny Collection alongside its 40 and 50 Year Old Tawny Ports, and the designs that adorn its giftbox were inspired by the long-living species of trees and plants that can be found in the Douro Valley — symbols of a shared longevity and the gradual passing of time.
Charles Symington, Symington Family Estates’ Co-CEO & Head Winemaker, said, “My father was born in 1944 — the midst of World War II — and his early childhood was shaped by the post-war recovery in a time of profound uncertainty. Several of the wines that comprise this special blend date from the 1940s, and the decades they have spent ageing have resulted in a truly magnificent old port. It was a privilege to mark my father’s 80th birthday with this remarkable wine, and now, it is an honour to share it with the world.”
The first release of Graham’s 80 Year Old Tawny Port is limited to 600 bottles. The wine will be available in the US with an SRP of US$ 2,500 in the late summer.
