Graham's White Blend No. 5

€ 26.30

Discover this fresh, modern take on white port – from its packaging to its flavour profile…

This medium-dry white port from Graham’s is made using two Portuguese grape varieties – Malvasia Fina and Moscatel Gallego. Hand-picked and cold-fermented in small batches, this combination of varietals creates a fresh, aromatic young port, aimed squarely at the gin drinker. As such, the brand hopes to capitalise on the growing popularity on the ‘P&T’ (White Port and Tonic) and the growth of premium spirits such as gin.

A production of less than 6000 bottles. Originally released only the UK market, now also available in Belgium

Like Sandeman, Graham's is of Scottish origin. The family was originally a Glasgow textile firm, when textiles were among the goods that the British used to trade for port, along with bacalhau (salt cod).

It was in family hands until the 1970s (the Graham family later opened a new house in the 1980s named Churchill’s) when it was bought by the Symingtons, who also now own Dow’s, Warre’s and Cockburn’s, as well as producing many good quality supermarket ports. Graham's makes everything from great vintage wines to the bestselling 6 Grapes, along with excellent tawny ports – including a very special 90-year-old one, created to celebrate the Queen's birthday in 2016.

In the city of Porto itself, the most popular drink is either a tawny served chilled or white port mixed with tonic water, often with orange peel or sprigs of rosemary, similar to the way the Spanish serve their G&T’s. Now that the city has become a major tourist attraction, many visitors have picked up a taste for it and want to drink it at home, too.

Traditionally, white port was oak-aged and usually tastes slightly woody and oxidised. Don’t get me wrong, I love this style (and think Churchill's does it best), but Graham's has done something different here by concentrating solely on two grapes – Malvasia Fina and Moscatel Gallega. They are cold-fermented to accentuate their aromatic qualities before the brandy is added to stop fermentation, leaving the wine sweet. It's then sold unaged, so that the fruit is to the fore.

The result is so intensely fruity and floral that it tastes like it has been flavoured like a gin. All in all a very clever, delicious and innovative wine that could likely induct people, who don’t necessarily think of themselves as port drinkers, into the club.

Food-Pairing

It's very versatile, working in a long drink with tonic, or (my preference) fizzy water, or on its own with fruit puddings like you might enjoy a Muscat Beaume de Venise.

The perfect serve for Graham’s Blend No. 5 consists of 50ml of the port on ice, topped with your favourite tonic and garnished with lemon and mint.

Grapes: Malvasia Fina & Moscatel Galego

The grapes are hand-picked and cold fermented in small batches. Graham’s Blend No.5 is bottled 3 months after the harvest to preserve maximum freshness and should be drunk young. The wine is medium dry, deliberately designed to mix well with tonic whilst also being an excellent standalone drink.

Alcoholcontent

19%

Store & Serve

Serve at 8 - 10ºC

Critics & Awards

4,4/5 - Vivino (30 reviews)

Tags: Graham's - Douro - Porto