Graham's Port, 2021

Vintage Port, Douro
Graham's Stone Terraces 2021
19/20 - Richard Mayson

Description and Reviews:
VWP had the honour of tasting this on the steps of THE Graham's Stone Terraces on launch day. It is a stunning port of immense concentration yet with finesse and elegance.

Graham's The Stone Terraces Vintage Port is produced from two low-yielding vineyards of just under 3 hectares laid out on magnificent stone terraces at Quinta dos Malvedos. The Symington family only produce this Vintage Port when these vineyards deliver wines of incomparable elegance and complexity. Given that the stone terraces are comprised of just a limited number of vines, the quality does not always align with the pattern of classic Vintage Port declarations - as was their assessment for 2021 and they are not producing any classic Vintage Ports from this year.

In the 2021 harvest, these vineyards delivered wines with an extraordinarily deep inky purple colour, pin sharp acidity, and wonderfully fresh scented aromas. After assessing the wines over the last 16 months, the Symingtons have chosen to bottle The Stone Terraces 2021 Vintage Port. This is just the fifth time that the family have made this micro-terroir Vintage Port - following 2011, 2015, 2016 and 2017.

These hand-built stone terraces date from the late 18th century and surround the estate house at Quinta dos Malvedos. Predominantly planted with mature Touriga Nacional, with a few younger plantings of Touriga Franca, Sousão and Alicante Bouschet, these vineyards deliver wines with a distinct profile, in great part, due to their aspects. The 'Port Arthur' vineyard has an east and west-facing plot, while the 'Vinha dos Cardenhos' faces north.

The 2021 growth cycle and harvest was one of the coolest in recent years, which allowed for gradual maturations and balanced ripening. The grapes from the stone-terraced vineyards were picked at the same time and co-fermented together to enhance the complexity, structure, and freshness.

We believe that the 2021 edition is the most elegant expression of The Stone Terraces Vintage Port to date and will age beautifully in bottle.