Graham's to release a special edition Six Grapes Old Vines Port

[Roy Hersh]

W. & J. GRAHAM’S TO RELEASE SPECIAL EDITION SIX GRAPES OLD VINES PORT

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 8, 2014 – It has been more than a hundred years since the famous Six Grapes motif was first used on a bottle of fine Port to denominate quality levels, Six Grapes being the highest possible classification, reserved for wines that were deemed to be potential candidates for bottling as Vintage Ports. Now, Winemakers at W. & J. Graham’s, Charles Symington and Henry Shotton, have decided to commemorate this by bottling a small quantity of a special wine made exclusivly from the oldest vines on Graham’s five Quintas.

Across the five Graham’s estates, vineyards of old mixed vines have been preserved. The youngest of these were planted in the early 1980s, but many also date from the early 1960s and 1970s, making them frequently more than 40 years old. These beautiful, gnarled old vines produce immensely low yields of fruit, which grow in small, tight bunches with intense concentration and complexity. On average, one old vine produces about a quarter of a pound of grapes and in some years the oldest vines produce even less than this.

Over their long life, Graham’s old vines have developed deep root systems, which reach over 20 feet into the Douro’s schist soils. As a result of the very low fruit yields, the flavors and aromas have extra profundity and concentration and the wines made from these old vines express the character of Douro’s schist soils and hot, dry summers with unique power and complexity. The whole Douro region is recognized as having some of the lowest yields of any wine region in the world and Graham’s old vines produce even less than the average. 2011 and 2012 were both outstanding harvests in the Douro, during which the oldest vineyards made particularly interesting wines. In these two years the old vines across Graham’s five estates produced an average of half a ton of grapes per acre.

The Six Grapes symbol originated in the 19th century as the code that W. & J. Graham used to identify the barrels containing the very best wines made at each harvest. The presentation of this Special Edition Six Grapes Old Vines Port pays homage to the original Six Grapes label that helped make the wine famous so many years ago. This wine will only be available in very limited quantities at fine retailers this Fall with a suggested retail price of $40.

[Daniel Jewesbury]

This is really great news! A special release at an everyday price - well done SFE. Glad to see that they still see the value of their everyday consumers - seriously.

[Andy Velebil]

This is really great news! A special release at an everyday price - well done SFE. Glad to see that they still see the value of their everyday consumers - seriously.

+1



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[Roy Hersh]

+1

Suck up!

[Andy Velebil]

Ok give me $7,000 for the old 1882 port from them and then you can talk. Hahaha


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[Moses Botbol]

Have had Six Grapes from the 1980's and was pretty rocking... Sounds like one to buy!

[Glenn E.]

Ok give me $7,000 for the old 1882 port from them and then you can talk. Hahaha

Would you rather have $7000 worth of Ne Oublie or $7000 worth of Six Grapes Old Vines Special Edition?

[Bradley Bogdan]

Ok give me $7,000 for the old 1882 port from them and then you can talk. Hahaha

Would you rather have $7000 worth of Ne Oublie or $7000 worth of Six Grapes Old Vines Special Edition?

I'd have no place to put roughly 15 cases of anything, so easy choice there!


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[Andy Velebil]

Ok give me $7,000 for the old 1882 port from them and then you can talk. Hahaha

Would you rather have $7000 worth of Ne Oublie or $7000 worth of Six Grapes Old Vines Special Edition?

I would rather have more to enjoy than less.

[Eric Menchen]

I wouldn't call it an everyday price, as it is more than LBV; but it is an attractive enough price that I will want to try a bottle, and hopefully buy more.

[Glenn E.]

I wouldn't call it an everyday price, as it is more than LBV; but it is an attractive enough price that I will want to try a bottle, and hopefully buy more.

Likewise. I will definitely pick up a bottle, and if it impresses I'll stock up.

[Derek T.]

I wouldn't call it an everyday price, as it is more than LBV; but it is an attractive enough price that I will want to try a bottle, and hopefully buy more.

Likewise. I will definitely pick up a bottle, and if it impresses I'll stock up.

Glenn, be warned, it is likely to be red and fruity, not brown and sticky

[Glenn E.]

I wouldn't call it an everyday price, as it is more than LBV; but it is an attractive enough price that I will want to try a bottle, and hopefully buy more.

Likewise. I will definitely pick up a bottle, and if it impresses I'll stock up.

Glenn, be warned, it is likely to be red and fruity, not brown and sticky

Surely not. Old vines only produce raisins, right?