Graham's Ne Oublie

[Glenn E.]

Have you checked out these videos on Graham's website? I can't decide if it's a clever lead-up to a new release of a very old Tawny, or just a series of videos commemorating Graham's history. Either way, they're nice!

http://neoublie.grahams-port.com/

(As near as I can tell, it probably means "never forget" in Scottish. Though I'm getting that from French because Google apparently doesn't think that Scottish is a real language.)

[Al B.]

I saw the videos on Youtube and really enjoyed them. I assume that we're being teased towards a release of a limited edition, exclusively priced, beautifully packaged 1882 colheita.

I was a touch cynical when a flurry of old colheitas or tawnies were released after the success of Scion, but I am less cynical these days. I think it's great that these historic stocks are being commercialised and made available to (affluent) consumers but I do worry that we're witnessing something of a one-off period in the history of port. Are the port shippers planning ahead? Have they already identified the wines in barrel which will be released at 130 years of age in 30 years time?

I holiday in Cornwall most years, not far from where Oliveira's UK agents are based. I used to be able to buy a bottle of 19th century madeira for my week's drinking for under £100 and it was a real treat. These days the stocks have gone and even buying something 50+ years old is difficult and much more expensive. I don't know whether that's a good thing - the producers have had a nice injection of cash from selling out their old stocks - or a bad thing since the producers have no more stocks and might well have been able to get a better return for their (grandfather's) efforts if they had sold less volume at a much higher price but still had some stocks for sale today.

[Daniel Jewesbury]

Glenn, it's French. Many mottoes on Scottish arms are; a link going back to Catholic links between France and Scotland before the Act of Union (1707) I guess.

[Eric Ifune]

Currently in Madeira and have been here the past week. Talking to some of the producers, they have deliberately raised prices to preserve some of their ancient stocks. Other's have not, however. One might think of stocking up on some of these before they are gone.

[Andy Velebil]

This explains the weird Facebook post they posted recently with the hot glass. Wasn't sure how the post had anything to do with Port, but this explains a bit.

[Derek T.]

(As near as I can tell, it probably means "never forget" in Scottish. Though I'm getting that from French because Google apparently doesn't think that Scottish is a real language.)

Scottish language is known as Scots. Despite many protestations from nationalist sources it is and always will be a form of English, principally with Germanic and Danish influences. As Daniel says, "Ne Oublie" is of French origin and is perhaps a legacy of the time when Scotland sided with France in the "Auld Alliance" in various wars with England in the thirteenth to fifteenth centuries.

I hope the Port that is coming our way is as old as the entomology of its name

[Andy Velebil]

Derek,
I am thinking this is the old 1882 Tawny which sits in two small barrels in their main office in Gaia. Several of us here have had it (Paul S. shared a bottle of it on a previous harvest trip in 2011 at Malvedos). Here's a pic. Course, that is just a guess.

[Derek T.]

I will report back after the launch on Wednesday in London

[David Spriggs]

Derek,
I am thinking this is the old 1882 Tawny which sits in two small barrels in their main office in Gaia. Several of us here have had it (Paul S. shared a bottle of it on a previous harvest trip in 2011 at Malvedos). Here's a pic. Course, that is just a guess.

Ah.... that was a special day indeed! Paul Symington, Henry Shotten, and the 1882... at Malvedos. Priceless!

[Andy Velebil]

Derek,
I am thinking this is the old 1882 Tawny which sits in two small barrels in their main office in Gaia. Several of us here have had it (Paul S. shared a bottle of it on a previous harvest trip in 2011 at Malvedos). Here's a pic. Course, that is just a guess.

Ah.... that was a special day indeed! Paul Symington, Henry Shotten, and the 1882... at Malvedos. Priceless!

Yes it was an epic visit for sure.

London launch again. Does this mean, again, the USA won't get a special SFE old Tawny??? I hope not, it's getting annoying that we haven't got previous ones in the states.


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[Glenn E.]

Derek,
I am thinking this is the old 1882 Tawny which sits in two small barrels in their main office in Gaia. Several of us here have had it (Paul S. shared a bottle of it on a previous harvest trip in 2011 at Malvedos). Here's a pic. Course, that is just a guess.

Ah.... that was a special day indeed! Paul Symington, Henry Shotten, and the 1882... at Malvedos. Priceless!

Yes it was an epic visit for sure.

London launch again. Does this mean, again, the USA won't get a special SFE old Tawny??? I hope not, it's getting annoying that we haven't got previous ones in the states.

Especially since we drink more of the brown sticky stuff than the UK does!

[Derek T.]

Especially since we drink more of the brown sticky stuff than the UK does!

But we still feel the need to quality assure this stuff before subjecting you to it. We take that responsibility very seriously.

[Andy Velebil]

Especially since we drink more of the brown sticky stuff than the UK does!

But we still feel the need to quality assure this stuff before subjecting you to it. We take that responsibility very seriously.

Very much appreciated. But can you stop being THAT responsible and send some to us

[Derek T.]

Tasted at the official launch at Christie's in London on 18th June 2014.

Unofficially from the 1882 vintage from a private reserve bought by A. J. Symington in 1922. Only one of three casks being offered for sale at €5,500 per bottle.



Incredibly intense and concentrated citrus nose. More red in the colour than I was expecting. Thick, viscous mouthfeel - very smooth and fresh. Fabulously complex with none of the clawing acidity that often comes with wood aged ports of this era. The finish goes on forever.

This is a stunning wine. The presentation is worthy of the contents.

[Andy Velebil]

Rubbing it in now, huh. lol


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