1985 - A Classic Port Vintage

Taylors 1985 with box
"A very attractive, vibrant vintage.  The best since 1977"
Michael Broadbent MW, Vintage Wine

We are delighted to offer 2 of the finest 1985 Vintage Ports, available for November delivery. 
  • The Fonseca, described by Jancis Robinson as "a vigorous marvel of a wine", is considered by many to be the wine of the vintage, and is always the most flamboyant and perfumed of the Vintage Ports.  
  • Taylor is more refined in style, described by Robert Parker as the "Chateau Latour of Vintage Ports"
Both are drinking beautifully now but offer many years of pleasure of ahead. We can also offer the Taylor's 1985 packed in cases of 6 in individual gift boxes, as a special Christmas offering.
 
The 1985 port vintage saw textbook growing conditions - Winter was very wet, Spring was cold and from June onwards the weather was extremely hot and dry.  The result; an excellent, powerful, concentrated, classic vintage that was unanimously declared.  1985 is listed as one of the greatest Port vintages of the 20th century in the 5th Edition Robert Parker's Wine Buyer's Guide.
 
Wine offered In Bond (IB) excluding duty and VAT.  For enquiries please email the team
Offer subject to final confirmation. E&OE.


VintageWineGrowerConditionSizeCasesBottlesPrice 
1985 Taylor - - Bottles - - 550 per Case Add to shopping cart
"A very youthful deep garnet core with ruby rim. This has a much more precocious nose than the -83 with ripe blackberry, raspberry coulis, black olives and a certain minerality to it. Very fresh and well defined, the palate is full-bodied, certainly more structured and complex than the previous two declarations. Notes of black cherry, fig, raisin with a hint of savoury fruit towards the finish that has great length and refinement."
95pts Neal Martin

"Mid ruby. Becoming a little pale. Rose petals and brown sugar on the nose with some violets. Very subtle. Not that enormously sweet but very smooth and seductive with a dry, peppery finish. Long. Drink 201-2035"
18/20pts Jancis Robinson


VintageWineGrowerConditionSizeCasesBottlesPrice 
1985 Fonseca - - Bottles 1 - 570 per Case Add to shopping cart
"The 1985 Fonseca is still youthful in appearance with hardly any ageing on the rim. The nose offers kirsch, sloes and Christmas cake. With time, there are subtle notes of dried fig and dates beginning to emerge and add to the complexity. The palate is medium-bodied and beautifully balanced on the supple, rounded entry. It is not quite as complex as the aromatics, with dates and dried fig, the finish mellow and refined. It is very elegant for a Fonseca, weighty but supremely well focused. This is a fabulous Fonseca that is ready to drink now, but will age for another 30 or 40 years. Drink now-2030+."
95pts Neal Martin