Paul Symington's retirement tasting

Image

A tasting of mature ports that was glorious but tinged with sadness. See also Two men we will miss.

In early November Paul (left) and Charles Symington of the family that produces Graham, Dow, Warre and Cockburn ports hosted an outstanding tasting of their ports going back 90 years to mark Paul’s retirement from active port duty.

These were such historic gems from the Symington Family Estates’ extensive stocks that the company’s winemaker Charles Symington, installed to take over from his gifted father Peter in time for the 1995 vintage, had made only one of the 12 ports shown...