Grahams 20 year old Tawny Portwine Portugal 20%

Twenty years in dark casks beneath the roofs of Vila Nova de Gaia have shifted the colour from deep ruby to warm amber. What's left in the glass is a Port where time itself has become part of the flavour.

Expert's Description

Graham's 20 Year Old Tawny Port is a Portuguese Aged Tawny Port from the Douro Valley, aged in oak casks for around 20 years and bottled at 20%.

Unlike a Ruby Port, which is aged to preserve fruit character, a Tawny is deliberately aged oxidatively in wood, slowly losing its red colour in favour of golden and amber hues. 20 years is an average age indication, arrived at by Graham's cellar master tasting through a blend of casks so that the overall wine reflects the stated age — some casks are younger, others older.

The blend draws on several of Graham's source estates in the Douro Valley, including Quinta dos Malvedos, which the house has owned since 1890 and which is a cornerstone of both its Vintage Ports and aged Tawny Ports.

The Symington family has run Graham's since 1970, but the connection goes back further: Andrew James Symington sailed from Scotland to Porto in 1882 to work for the Graham family, a bond that later turned into ownership.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers a complex bouquet of roasted nuts, orange peel and ripe dried fruit, softened by the long ageing.

Palate

The palate is rich and softly sweet, with notes of caramel, burnt orange and a fine balance between sweetness and acidity.

Finish

The finish is long and elegant, closing with a last touch of roasted almonds.

Specifications

Name: Graham's 20 Year Old Tawny Port
Winery: Graham's
Region-Country: Douro, Portugal
Type: Aged Tawny Port
ABV: 20%
Size: 75 CL
Ageing: Oak cask (approx. 20 years)
EAN no.: 5010867410329
Serving suggestion: Serve lightly chilled at 12-14°C, ideally with walnuts, dried fruit or crème brûlée

Flavour Profile

Nutty · Caramel · Amber · Complex

Did You Know?

The colour of a Tawny like this one doesn't come from the grape variety, but from years of contact with air through the cask's porous wood. The longer the ageing, the more the wine shifts from ruby red toward the warm amber tone that gives the style its name.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Graham's 20 Year Old Tawny Port

What does the '20 Year Old' on the label mean?

It's an average age indication, set by Graham's cellar master through tasting across several casks, so the final blend reflects the character of a 20-year-old Tawny.

How does a 20 Year Old Tawny differ from a Ruby Port?

Where Ruby is aged to preserve fresh fruit, Tawny is deliberately aged oxidatively in wood for many years, giving nutty, caramel and orange notes instead of berry fruit.

Should 20 Year Old Tawny be served cold?

It's best enjoyed lightly chilled, around 12-14°C, where the nutty and caramelised notes come through most clearly.

How long does the bottle keep once opened?

Thanks to its long cask ageing, a Tawny keeps better than a Ruby Port after opening and can easily last several weeks to months when stored properly.

Which grapes and vineyards lie behind Graham's 20 Year Old Tawny?

The blend draws on several of Graham's estates in the Douro Valley, including Quinta dos Malvedos, a key source for the house since 1890.