1994 Graham's Vintage Port

Paulo Silva · Post by **Paulo Silva** » Wed Oct 24, 2007 3:24 pm

Ruby color, even with a good density, with light reflected in the dark red ring.
In the nose, closed and without willingness to show, very austere and honorable in itself, little by little shows a very aromatic complexity, with very ripe black fruit, dry grass, spices and a plant profile background beside a dash and balsam floral.

In the mouth, with extreme power and structure, filled with black fruit, in a profile not too sweet, somewhat dry, with tannins of great class and full of potential. While obviously not able to predict when will be in its heyday, this time is certainly not and has not happened. Final long, fresh, with clear predominance of black chocolate mixed with black fruit and mild spice.
It gave me very pleasur to taste it, but mainly to gave me the idea of what is a Vintage "in maintenance"

18.5/20 points

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 12:46 am

Paulo,

Very well written and I am a big fan of the '94 Graham's as well.

While obviously not able to predict when will be in its heyday,

I'd be happy to go out on the limb on this particular bottling which I know quite well. This will drink at its best circa 2055-2060. Far enough out on that limb for you?

If I was around, I'd be happy to share one with you then, but all of mine will be left for my daughter to enjoy in her lifetime.

Robert O. · Post by **Robert O.** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 10:57 am

Wow, Roy, that sort of depresses me. I have a few of these and even though I am 36, that is a long way out. I know you are predicting a peak a long way off, but when do you think the drinking window for this VP starts?

Paulo Silva · Post by **Paulo Silva** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 2:50 pm

Roy Hersh wrote:
If I was around, I'd be happy to share one with you then, but all of mine will be left for my daughter to enjoy in her lifetime.

I give another information. This year, the Revista de Vinhos( Wine Magazine of Portugal) tasted a group of Vintage's of 1994, and one of the winners was the Graham's. They said in the Magazine, that the Graham's is surelly to keep in the cellar for years and years...

OK Roy, see you in 2055!

Todd Pettinger · Post by **Todd Pettinger** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:07 pm

Roy Hersh wrote:This will drink at its best circa 2055-2060. Far enough out on that limb for you?

Wow... I may have to crack one open on my 80th birthday then in 2056. That IS depressing....

Todd

Post by **Roy Hersh** » Thu Oct 25, 2007 11:22 pm

I know you are predicting a peak a long way off, but when do you think the drinking window for this VP starts?

It already HAS started. Drink up and enjoy now. Save your bottles and find it a great youngster in 2020. Around 2025 it might start to show some signs of secondary nuances and some will call it a mature wine (mistakenly so). It will really start to shine in and around 2035. But for those youngsters who can keep a few of these back, in 2040 and thereafter, this is going to get better and better. At about age 60 it will be at peak, similar to the 1945 and 1948 Graham's today, both of which are beautiful and mature, but in no way heading over the other side of the mountain. The 1994 should follow a very similar trajectory.