Graham's Vintage Port 2000

98 points and 'Top 100 Wine of 2003 (#9),' Wine Spectator: "Smells like freshly picked orchids, with loads of ripe, clean fruit. Full-bodied, medium sweet and very powerful and racy. It lasts for minutes on your palate. Yet there's a balance and class to this young Vintage Port. This is the greatest glass of Graham I have ever tasted, young or old. Best after 2014. (5/15/03)"

96 points Decanter: "The 2000 growing season is known for quality over quantity. A mild, dry winter led to early bud burst before April and May brought unusual amounts of rain. This caused disruption to fruit set and a small harvest, but summer delivered some stability with good weather stretching right into September and through the harvest, ultimately with excellent fruit quality and fermentations under near ideal conditions. RM Strangely withdrawn on the nose, though perhaps just in a phase – it’s much better on the palate with fresh berry fruit, firm tannins and lovely overall depth. Balanced, not especially big, but very nicely structured. SJ Lush and majestic palate. Indulgently concentrated but well balanced, with cooked black fruit, chocolate and nutmeg spice. Incredibly long, with many years ahead. DW This is a full, ripe, sweet, juicy and expressive example with blueberry appeal, leather/ spice notes and freshness, as well as notable tannic tension. Drinking Window: 2022-2075. (Oct 2022)"

95 points Falstaff Guide: "Dark ruby garnet, dark core, broad rim brightening. Intense nuances of preserved cherries, fine nougat, subtle herbal spice, inviting bouquet. Juicy, already entering the second, round style of cooked dark berry fruit, fine tannins, well-integrated sweetness, has length, already easy to drink. (2/12/16)"

94 points Robert Parker: "Grapy, unformed, black raspberry liqueur and licorice-infused cassis notes leap from the glass of this opaque purple-colored wine. Sweet, plush, rich, and accessible, it is a forward, lush, concentrated effort that should drink well for two decades. While not one of Graham's most profound ports, it should evolve rapidly, providing immense crowd appeal. (Oct 2002)"

94 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "[$80 list] Saturated black-ruby. Superripe, bottomless nose of black fruits, mocha, bitter chocolate and flowers. Hugely sweet, dense and rich. A port of outstanding opulence and creamy texture; deceptively easy to taste. Substantial, sweet, spreading tannins are buried under a wave of fruit. Extremely long, fruit-driven finish. (Jan/Feb 2003)"

94 points Roy Hersh (For The Love of Port): "Aromatically this was a bit reticent, but some coaxing allowed the red fruit notes to emerge. Medium weight and seemingly more vinous than either the 2003 or 2007. Smoky and spicy black cherry, cocoa and eucalyptus flavors melded beautifully. The 2000 is still very tannic and will support long term cellaring, improving for many years and showing more grip than either previous Port. Drink now or cellar through the middle decades of the century. A gorgeous young Vintage Port, it deserved more hours in decanter and would have performed even better. But why quibble about a great Graham’s like this? (3/31/11)"

19/20 points Richard Hemming, MW (JancisRobinson.com): "So young! Hardly any signs of bottle age here, with the primary red fruit still going full throttle. Brilliantly balanced. Super-rich and thick. Most likely immortal. Drinking Window: 2020-2068. (9/2/21)"

18/20 points Richard Mayson (The World of Fine Wine): "Deep, youthful, opaque color. Lovely perfume and surprisingly open for a Vintage Port at this stage of adolescence; very pure fruit. Opulent, dense, very powerful, forceful tannins, big, ripe, very fine and rich. Keep for at least ten years. This is the first Graham Vintage to be made partially (36 percent) in robotic lagares. (Issue #33; 2011)"