A good LBV should be sweet, tangy and well-balanced, with fine tannins, making it a fabulous accompaniment to cheese boards (particularly goat's cheese and blue cheeses), dark chocolate and intense berry-based desserts. How long will it keep once opened?

Graham’s, one of the most outstanding producers of vintage port, owns five separate mountainous vineyards, located in different parts of the Douro region – each with the maximum ‘A’ grade classification. They have left as much of the original wild plant life undisturbed as possible, preserving biodiversity to contribute to unique and powerfully expressive wines reflective of the terroir. Graham's wines are renowned for remarkable richness, concentration and firm tannic structure which combine to give brilliant longevity. The House style is known by its intense floral notes, opulent berry fruit flavours and flair.One to two weeks in the fridge or at a cool, stable temperature (e.g. cellar or similar) How we test Late Bottled Vintage Port is matured in a seasoned oak barrel and then bottled at between four and six years of age, whereas Vintage Port spends two years in casks and then matures in bottle. Its ageing process encourages the wine’s development at the time of bottling, therefore it is ready for drinking without decanting.

LBVs are considered excellent value for money, offering some of the style and complexity of a vintage port but with the ease of being ready to drink and at a snip of the price. What could be more Christmassy than enjoying a sweet glass of port? The late bottled vintage variety is made from only the finest vintages and aged at the port house for anywhere between four and six years before bottling. The story of Graham’s is that of two families, across three centuries. Founded in 1820 by two brothers, William and John Graham, the company was one of the first to invest in its own vineyards in the Douro Valley, and remains a pioneer innovating new techniques in winemaking to this day. Today, since their acquisition by Symington Family Estates, five Symington cousins share responsibility for the company. The Symington family has also been involved with Port for generations. Nearly a century after their ancestor AJ Symington left the employ of Graham’s to strike out on his own, the family came full circle to return to the company. The 2009 Graham´s Late Bottled Vintage Port (LBV) is a superb wine, selected from the finest production of a very good year. Whereas vintage Port spends two years in casks and then matures in bottle, LBV is matured in seasoned oak and then bottled at between four and six years of age; hence the term, ‘Late Bottled’. Its ageing process encourages the wine’s development; at the time of bottling it is therefore ready for drinking without the need for decanting. Graham´s LBV represents centuries of experience and craftsmanship and is a reflection of the people who contribute to the making of the wine in the vineyard, the cellars, the cooperage and the tasting room, as well as the Graham´s Lodge where it ages since shortly after the harvest. Each lot of Graham´s LBV 2009 has been personally selected by Charles Symington, head winemaker and taster, and António Monteiro, Graham´s cellar master.The 2017 Graham´s Late Bottled Vintage Port is a Special Bicentenial LBV release celebrating Graham’s 200th anniversary. Produced soley from the Symington families own top quality vineyards.