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New look for the 2009 Graham’s LBV
The Symington Family has introduced its new look Graham’s 2009 Late Bottled Vintage, produced in a very hot year in the Douro resulting in very low yields, which also paid homage to their long serving cellar master, Antonio Monteiro.
According to Symington, the 2009 Graham’s LBV has been repackaged in order to bring it aesthetically in line with the other Graham’s Ports and to give it distinction in a field where all LBV’s look almost identical.
The LBV is Grahams biggest selling premium port and represents just over a third (34%) of all Graham’s sales worldwide.
The new label pays tribute to the contribution of cellar master Antonio Monteiro by registering his signature on the bottle alongside that of master taster Charles Symington.
Antonio Monteiro has worked in the Graham’s Lodge for 35 years and has been cellar master since 2006 and is personally responsible for all the wines ageing in the seasoned oak barrels and vats.
Monteiro was humbled by the honour: “I have been at Graham’s for all my working life and alongside three generations of the Symington family.”
“The lodge, the barrels and the wines are part of what I am, so it is with pride that I see my signature on the new LBV label,” said Monteiro.
Paul Symington, Chairman of Symington Family Estates commented on the 2009 vintage and said the gesture was well deserved: “We got just 0.45kgs per vine in 2009, one of the lowest yields for many decades and the wine is very special so we thought it was the right time to reinvigorate the presentation and to bring it in line with the Graham’s ethos, a large part of which is recognising the people who work with us to produce these premium quality wines.”
Antonio Monteiro has worked at Graham’s for 35 years.
“The extraordinary dedication of people such as Antonio deserves to be honoured in this way,” said Symington.
The 2009 LBV is primarily drawn from Graham’s five mountain vineyards: Quinta dos Malvedos, Tua and Vila Velha in the main Douro valley, Lages in the Rio Torto and Vale de Malhadas in the Douro Superior with the grapes from each vineyard bringing specific characteristics to the wine.
2009 was an unusual year in the Douro with 40% less rainfall than average, which reduced the yields by up to 36% but produced wines with intensely concentrated flavours.