772 | Wine | Port | Page 7

"Reddish-tawny color. Slightly roasted aromas of bonfire, toffee and almond; slight hint of maderization. Sweet and smooth, but rather powerful, with youthful red berry flavor and a bit of heat. Smoke and nutskin on the lingering finish." Reviewed by Stephen Tanzer; no score given.

"The nose here can only be described as frustratingly coy but very, very pretty. Core notes of warm blackberry and black cherry are joined by violets, black pepper, cloves, licorice and a touch of mocha. The palate promises at a wine of great purity, elegance and balance to come. Layer upon layer of dark fruit and spice flavours seamlessly wrap around crisp acidity and a wonderful texture of very fine, firm tannins. Very, very long finish."

"Brooding, slightly high-toned aromas of spicy kirsch, blackberry and peaty terroir. ...plus a whiff of apple eau de vie. Deep, ripe and silky; not a huge wine but shapely and stylish, with its youthful kirsch and blackberry flavors given shape by ripe framing acidity. Lovely restrained sweetness carries through to the ripely tannic, long finish."

"Very impressive. Full, deep color for an older tawny. Brooding aromas of currant fruitiness, nuts, raisins and minerals. Concentrated, unctuous and sweet; slightly aggressive and powerfully structured, but buffered by strong extract. Maintains unusually fresh fruit flavors for an older tawny. Offers weight and solid structure. Long, sweet finish leaves a glyceral impression, and is not at all dried by the brandy." Reviewed by Stephen Tanzer; no score given.

"This is black in color. Sweet berry and plum on the nose, with wet earth, pepper and leaf notes. Minerally. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with a solid core of tannins and a dense palate. Long and chewy, with a core of sweet fruit." 92-95 pts.

"In a port tasting, tasting Graham's is almost like tasting a big, rich, succulent Merlot after a group of blockbuster, tannic Cabernets. Sweeter and more obvious than many ports, the opaque purple-colored 1994 is fruity, powerful, and rich, with an addictive hedonistic quality. It will be ready to drink in 8-10 years and keep for up to 30. As always, this is a showy, flamboyant port that has the advantage of being slightly sweeter than other 1994s. A great Graham's. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2035." -Robert Parker October, 1996