Graham's Six Grapes Reserve Port

Graham's Six Grapes Reserve Port is a ruby reserve Port from Portugal's Douro Valley, bottled at 20% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Awarded 95 points by Decanter, this expression draws from the same vineyards used for Graham's celebrated Vintage Ports, making it one of the most respected ruby reserves on the market.

Quick Facts: ABV: 20%  |  Origin: Douro Valley, Portugal  |  Ruby Reserve Port  |  Producer: W. & J. Graham's (Symington Family Estates)

Production & Heritage

W. & J. Graham's has been producing Port in the Douro Valley since 1820. The house has been owned and managed by the Symington family since 1970, one of the leading Port dynasties in Portugal. Six Grapes is made from a blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, and Tinta Barroca — the same noble grape varieties that form the backbone of top-tier Vintage Ports. Fermentation is halted by the addition of grape spirit (brandy) while residual sugar remains, preserving the Port's characteristic sweetness and intensity. The wine is typically aged an average of five to six years before bottling. The name "Six Grapes" traces back to an early 1800s classification system at the Graham's lodge, where a symbol of six grapes marked the highest-quality lots — those deemed worthy of a Vintage Port declaration.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Dense and seductive on the nose, opening with ripe blackberry, black currant, and stewed cherry. Deeper inhales reveal licorice, cassis, and a subtle backdrop of oak and toffee.

Taste: The entry is full-bodied and generous, with immediate waves of ripe dark fruit — blackberry, blueberry, and black cherry dominate the mid-palate. Spicy cassis and a vein of dark chocolate emerge as the wine develops across the tongue, supported by an earthy complexity and well-integrated sweetness that avoids cloying.

Finish: Long and lingering, with chocolate-covered cherry as the signature closing note. A trace of warm spice and ripe plum carries well beyond the last sip.

How to Drink Six Grapes

Six Grapes is best served slightly below room temperature, around 16–18°C (60–64°F), in a small tulip-shaped glass that concentrates its aromatic intensity. It drinks beautifully on its own as an after-dinner pour. For cocktails, it works in a Port Cobbler, where its fruit density stands up to citrus and crushed ice; a Port and Tonic, an increasingly popular long serve where the bitter quinine highlights the wine's dark berry character; and a Port Negroni, substituting Six Grapes for sweet vermouth to add richer fruit depth and natural sweetness to the classic bitter framework.

Best For

• After-dinner sipping alongside a cheese course or dark chocolate dessert
• Introducing a wine enthusiast to premium ruby reserve Port
• Gifting during the holiday season — a classic, well-recognized label
• Building a Port collection with a reliable, critically acclaimed benchmark

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Six Grapes taste like? Six Grapes delivers a rich, full-bodied profile dominated by ripe blackberry, black cherry, cassis, and dark chocolate, with a long finish marked by spice and lingering plum sweetness.

How does Six Grapes compare to Fonseca Bin 27? Both are leading ruby reserve Ports at a similar quality tier; Fonseca Bin 27 tends slightly more forward and fruit-driven on the palate, while Six Grapes leans toward greater structure, depth, and a more pronounced chocolate character. Graham's Six Grapes has earned a 95-point Decanter rating and Gold at the 2013 Decanter World Wine Awards, positioning it as a top performer in the category.

Is Six Grapes good for sipping neat? Six Grapes is one of the strongest ruby reserves for neat sipping, with enough complexity and length to reward slow, deliberate tasting without any need for mixing.

Where is Six Grapes made? Six Grapes is produced by W. & J. Graham's in Portugal's Douro Valley, one of the world's oldest demarcated wine regions. The house has been under the stewardship of the Symington family since 1970.

What foods pair well with Six Grapes? Stilton or aged blue cheese highlights the wine's sweetness through contrast. Dark chocolate truffles mirror its cocoa undertones. Roasted walnuts complement its earthy spice. Berry-based tarts echo its fruit core. Charcuterie with fig preserves bridges the savory and sweet registers of the wine.

What sizes does Six Grapes come in? Graham's Six Grapes Reserve Port is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Six Grapes worth the price? Six Grapes positions as a premium ruby reserve Port, sitting above basic ruby bottlings but well below Vintage, Late Bottled Vintage, or Tawny with age statement offerings. Given its 95-point Decanter score and Gold medal pedigree, it represents strong value within the reserve Port tier.

Why Six Grapes?

The name itself signals intent — dating back two centuries, the six-grape mark was Graham's internal shorthand for the very best lots in the lodge, those worthy of a Vintage declaration. That heritage carries through into the modern bottling, which is sourced from the same prime Douro vineyards used for Graham's top-tier Ports. A 95-point Decanter rating and Gold at the 2013 Decanter World Wine Awards confirm that this is not merely a reliable everyday Port but a genuine overperformer in its class. For anyone seeking a ruby reserve with real depth, proven critical recognition, and a direct lineage to one of the Douro's most storied houses, Six Grapes consistently justifies its reputation.