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Uutiset
Jancis Robinson MW critic
Very deep crimson with some evolution at the rim. Strongly scented - sweet, candied violets. Very sweet yet vigorous and still with lots of quite grainy tannins. Real power and no shortage of potential! Drink now - 2016. Score: 18/20
Serena Sutcliffe MW critic
Peppery violets on the nose. Strong, powerful and alcoholic but such sweetness and drive. Damsons finish. Huge wine which always shows beautifully at every outing.
Michael Broadbent MW critic
A superb bottle at a dinner party at home, May 2001. More recently: soft tawny-red, gloriously fragrant and flowery. Complete, excellent. Score: 5 Stars
Clive Coates MW critic
Fulllish colour, just about mature. Full, firm nose. Still undeveloped. Still a bit closed. The complete wine. Fullish, just about ready. Real depth. Excellent depth. Excellent complex fruit. Delicious. Score: 20/20
Robert Parker critic
The 1970 is a monumental vintage port and one of the greats of the vintage. It begs to be drunk now, although it will last for at least another two decades. Score: 93/100
Michael Broadbent MW critic
Originally (July 1972) opaque, still deep, plummy and fairly intense, showing rich extract. Fragrant, high-toned yet harmonious bouquet though still a bit hard. Very sweet, full-bodied, lots of fruit, grip, length, tannin and acidity. Chocolate and spice. Score: 5 Stars
Viinin Kuvailu
The Story
Graham's has a reputation as a producer of outstanding Vintage Port for well over a century. These wines are renowned for their remarkable richness, concentration and firm tannic structure: a combination which yields impressive longevity. Graham's Vintage Ports consistently attain the highest ratings in tastings and invariably attract very high bids at fine wine auctions.
Vintage Ports are only made in years of exceptionally high quality harvests, which on average occur two or three times in a decade. The weather in the vineyards is the principal determining factor: conditions must be ideal throughout the growing season, as well as during the subsequent harvest.
Graham's extraordinary quality is the result of the unique characteristics of the five vineyards that contribute to the Vintage Port.
Graham's declares a Vintage Port only in exceptional years, perhaps three times in a decade, and in the intervening years may produce a Quinta Vintage Ports from Quinta dos Malvedos or Quinta do Tua. These Quinta Vintage Ports are aged in our cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia for 10 years or more after harvest, before being released to the market, ready for enjoyment.
Graham’s Vintage Ports are outstanding for their consistent quality and long life. James Suckling’s series of notes for old vintages tasted in 1990 confirm this – how many wines, after 40 or more years, are rated so highly and noted as “will improve with age” ?
Wine Information
Vintage Overview
Magnificent wines with abundant ripe
fruit flavours and concentrated tannins.
The harmony and balance of the best
1970's wines is quite simply
outstanding. The best 1970’s should be
ranked amongst the all-time greatest
Vintage Ports produced in the Douro.
After thirty five years of ageing, these
wines are currently in perfect balance
but they will continue to age gracefully
for many years to come.
The Viticultural Year
A wet winter with a cold and dry March.
Warm weather in April was ideal for
flowering. Spring and summer were calm
and settled. Rain fell in late August and
early September. Harvesting started at
Malvedos on 21st September. Good
weather throughout the vintage.
Contemporary Family Comments
“Thunder showers these last few days
have amounted to several hours of
steady rain, very welcome and ideal
providing it now clears. Prospects in the
better districts good for quality and
average yield”.
Michael Symington
28 August 1970
Wine Specification
Alcohol by Volume: 21% v/v (20ºc)
Total Acidity: 4.05 g/l tartaric acid
Baumé: 3.90
