Halloween is one of the few times that we adults can break loose and be kids again. If we so choose, we can dress up like giant apes, and walk around in public mingling with superheroes, monsters, and pop culture icons. Of course, all this dress up and mingling requires a little adult candy, and what better way to enjoy that, than in a glass. Enter Graham’s 10 Year Tawny Porto, a fortified wine with a caramel appearance and pedigree from one of the best Port producers in the world.
[Disclosure: Graham’s was nice enough to send me a sample of their wine to talk about for Halloween. Graham’s is a great producer of Porto, so I was excited to say yes (and add some peanut butter cups!]
Sight: A beautiful caramel color with a hint of toast around the edges, and a reddish core.
Smell: The nose is incredibly nutty with hints of butterscotch, honey, and dates. The nuts are toasty, sugary, and salty.
Sip: The body is silken, with a lush richness that coats the tongue. A light sweetness is present throughout. The body has ribbons of caramel, brown sugar, and nuts. Light notes of raisins, dates, and a touch of red fruit.
Savor: The ending is short, with a hazelnut and burnt sugar note. Touches of candied orange flirt across the ending.
Graham’s 10 Year Tawny Porto is luxuriously smooth with beautifully nuts and hints of fruit. The character is simple and straight forward, but delicious. The texture is where it shines, letting the flavors envelop the palate with out detracting. The great elements of sweetness are well balanced against the liveliness.
If you’re looking for a great partner, try Graham’s 10 Year Tawny Porto with a peanut butter cup. The wine accentuates the salty natures of the peanut butter, while the peanut butter cup brings out some of the fruitier element of the wine. Overall, Graham’s 10 Year Tawny Porto is well constructed, with a great texture, and delicious nutty flavors that work well for dessert.
Verdict: Nutty, Smooth, Caramel, Dates
Rating: 88
Price: $36
Portugal
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