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Blended from wines sourced from Quinta dos Malvedos and Quinta das Lages as well as a small number of other top vineyards in the Pinhão and Rio Torto valleys. Very small production, no more than 115 pipes, which would be 6,700 9 litre cases today. Contrary to the usual practice of shipping in pipes for bottling at destination, the 1945 was bottled entirely here in Gaia, due to the shortage of glass in England after the war.
Alcohol by volume v/v (20º C): 21%
Total Acidity g/l tartaric acid: 3,90
Baumé: 3,8
Wine Description
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
A superlative Vintage, the quality in the Douro Valley reflecting that of most other growing regions in Europe. This wine is one of the superb 'reference years' by which all other Vintages are judged. Declared by all the major Port houses, Cockburn being the one exception. Superb quality, small quantity. Notable for being the first vintage to be widely bottled in Portugal. This Vintage has been fully mature for years, but well cellared, the best wines will last for decades.
Full-bodied wines with fantastic structure, these are wonderful long lasting wines. After more than half a century the best 45's continue to be a revelation: elegant, still with fruit and backed by tannin. These wines are the example that all other Vintage Ports must match to earn top year status.
Viticultural and Weather Conditions
It was a dry year, with a very hot summer; it only rained at the very end of August. Weather conditions were perfect for a very early harvest at the beginning of September. The quantity was low, less than 1 kg of grapes per vine in the Upper Douro, but the quality was superb.
Winemaker's Overview
The vintage started on September 6th. The weather throughout was exceptionally hot. In spite of the heat it was only during two days that high temperatures were registered in the lagares, and the precautions had to be taken. The mostos (musts) seem quite good and the colour fairly good.
Ronald A Symington
17 September 1945
Vintage 1945
Port Vintage Report: Classic Vintage, full-bodied, deep purple and sweet, with a large concentration of fruit and tannins. First post-War Vintage. Bottled in Portugal, owing to English restrictions. Almost all producers declared production. Low production year. Dry year, with a very hot summer, and only a few rains at the end of August. Early harvests, starting in the first half of September.
