Grahams Late Bottled Vintage Port 2014

I rarely write up the few Port wines that I try. Mainly because I find them too heavy to drink for long and, as they’re often served at the end of a large meal, I’m often a bit tipsy and neither know nor care how they taste. Shame really as this fortified wine is deserving of more attention. I have friends who live in Oporto so really must visit one day.

As I was now on my tenth, and final, wine variety of the night at the Christmas Wine Tasting at the Lion and Lamb, I was fully prepared to skip the Port altogether. I’m glad I didn’t because I rather enjoyed this port.

It smelt of chocolate and seriously dark black fruits. I also got a hint of dried fruit, but I usually do with fortified wines. Even better it tasted of chocolate. Cadbury’s milk chocolate to be precise, rather than the usual bitter coco or dark chocolate you get with red wines. There was another flavour in there which made me think of raw cooking chocolate. The notes said mint and eucalyptus: I’m not sure I’d go that far but definitely a hint of something herby, but not bitter. Then the dark fruit underneath.

Yes this is a full bodied heavy wine, high in alcohol and on the sweet side, but not overly sweet. You’re not going to chug this one down, it needs slow appreciative sips. Too be honest non fortified wines will remain my favourite as I prefer lighter wines, but this port is definitely worth a try. We polished the glass off nicely.