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Vintage Port 1985

The 1980s didn't really produce a great vintage for the winemakers of the Douro. It is said that a typical decade will see two or three Port vintages widely declared, and in fact in this decade saw three such vintages - 1980, 1983, 1985 - although a number of houses also declared 1982. Of these four vintages, 1983 and 1985 offer, in my opinion, the best quality, although 1980 and 1982 can also be sources of good (and good value) wines. I taste wines from the 1983 vintage in my Vintage Port 1983 blind tasting.

The 1985 vintage started with a cold, wet winter which ran into a rather damp and miserable spring. The summer weather, however, was hot and dry and there proceeded in late-September a harvest of healthy, ripe, highly coloured grapes. The vintage was declared by all the houses of any importance. If asked to lay my cards on the table, I think 1985 just pips 1983 on quality. (11/10/00)

Vintage Port 1985 Tasting

Tasted in October 2000. Click to locate stockists:

Warre's Vintage Port 1985: A good purple colour, with nice legs. Some fruit on the nose. The palate has good fruit, with well integrated alcohol and a spicy, peppery sweetness. Finishes cleanly, with good length. A lovely wine. 18/20

Taylor's Vintage Port 1985: Also has a good intensity of colour, with more impressive thick, oily legs. The nose has rich black fruit with spice and a hint of cigar-box. A smooth, rich palate, with good fruit and obvious alcohol, which retains a fiery presence. Finishes well. Still needs time. 17/20

Fonseca Vintage Port 1985: Another dark purple wine, also with impressively thick, oily legs. The nose is rich, laden with molasses, toasty hints of oak and good fruit. The palate has a lovely weight and beautiful fruit. The alcohol is still quite fiery and a little coarse, but looking past this the wine has a good, smooth texture through to the finish. Good length. Another wine that still needs time. 18+/20

Dow's Vintage Port 1985: This wine has a less dense, red-purple hue. The nose carries lovely, forward aromas of round black fruit. The palate is smoothly textured, with a streak of pure black fruit and very nicely integrated alcohol. Some soft tannins show through on the finish, which has a lovely warming effect with a lovely length. 18/20

Quinta do Noval Vintage Port 1985: This wine also has a less dense hue than the preceding wines. The nose is quite woody, with some figgy fruit. On the palate, however, sweet black peppery fruit marries with well integrated alcohol to produce a good, smooth, weighty texture. Finishes well, leading into a good length. 17/20

Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port 1985: A vibrant red-purple colour, with thin oily legs. The nose carries a mixture of red fruits and coffee, preceding the palate which has some creamy, sweet fruit with spice and pepper. Fairly light on the palate compared to the other wines, but drinking well. 16/20

Vintage Port 1985

Vintage Port 1985 Tasting

Portugal