1985
1985
Smith Woodhouse 1985 Vintage Port
Portuguese Fortified
Violet, black cherry and dark chocolate lead a rich, mature bouquet, with Christmas spice and a light leathery note adding detail. The palate is full and intense, bringing raspberry, cassis and caramelized sugar over round, fine-grained tannins. Firm grip keeps the sweetness balanced through a long, spicy finish. Decant carefully and serve with blue cheese or dark chocolate.
Caves Sao Joao 1985 Dao Porta dos Cavaleiros
Portuguese Red
Mature dark cherry and red berry sit beneath tobacco, pencil lead, graphite and dark chocolate, with damp earth, mushroom and leather adding further savoury depth. Medium acidity and resolved tannins give the palate a gentle, evolved shape, while hints of mint, dried flowers and cured meat carry the finish. Bottle variation is expected; stand upright and decant carefully around sediment.
Château Léoville-Las Cases 1985 Saint-Julien
French Red
Mature and beautifully composed, with cassis, wild strawberry and dark fruit joined by cedar, tobacco, dark chocolate, dried berries, crushed stone and rose petal. Powerful yet sophisticated, the palate is vivid and harmonious, with velvety structure and a long, lingering finish. Decant carefully for about one hour and serve with roast beef, lamb or mushrooms.
Moulin Touchais 1985 Coteaux du Layon
French Dessert
Gold colour accompanies sweetness, intense richness and acidity in a full, opulent texture. Baked apple, apple jelly, pink pineapple, flowers, honey and grapefruit are present. Confit peach, pear and toast add further detail, alongside a savoury hint and a phenolic finish. The wine is made from Chenin Blanc in Coteaux du Layon, Loire Valley, and contains 13.5 percent alcohol.
Château Cabrières 1985 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge
French Red
A garnet-red colour carries a dark brick rim. Ripe, jammy red-berry fruit appears with fine woody and animal notes. The full, rich profile has warmth, macerated overripe red berries, gentle velvety tannins and bitter chocolate. This dry red spent twelve months in new oak. It comes from Châteauneuf-du-Pape in the Rhône and contains less than four grams of sugar.
Remoissenet 1985 Santenay Premier Cru Clos de Tavannes
French Red
A ruby core sits within a broad tawny-brown rim. The powerful bouquet includes beef, blood and game, with raspberry, strawberry and dank undergrowth. The palate is sweet, with ripe strawberry and berry fruit alongside mellow coffee and tobacco oak. The tannins are surprisingly grippy. Pinot Noir is the stated grape, and the wine comes from Santenay Premier Cru in Burgundy.
Château Cheval Blanc 1985 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
French Red
Mature and expressive, with plum, black cherry and cassis opening into truffle, tobacco, cedar, dried flowers and warm baking spice. The palate is plush and sensuous, with softened tannins, gentle freshness and a long earthy finish. Its savoury complexity is now as prominent as the remaining fruit, so careful service matters. Stand the bottle upright before opening, decant gently for sediment and pair with roast lamb, duck or mushroom dishes.
Remoissenet Pere et Fils 1985 Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
French Red
Mature red cherry and floral notes meet mushroom, wet leaves, earth and a quiet umami edge. The palate retains a rich core of fruit, with fine acidity and softened structure giving it more life than the evolved nose suggests. Savoury woodland detail carries the finish. Bottle variation is pronounced at this age, so stand upright and decant gently only as needed.
Quinta do Noval 1985 Vintage Port
Portuguese Fortified
Warm fruitcake, toasted cinnamon, sandalwood and blood orange form a mature, perfumed bouquet. The palate is silky and rounded, with sweet dark fruit, earthy spice and understated complexity held in elegant balance. This is fully developed rather than heavy, and ready to enjoy now. Stand upright, decant gently and serve with Stilton, walnuts or dark chocolate.
Graham’s Vintage Port 1985
Portuguese Fortified
Deep at the core with a fine tawny rim, offering ripe plum, dark berries, fig and baking spice over a subtle nutty undertone. Full-bodied and concentrated, the palate is remarkably soft, with integrated spirit, mellow tannins and enough freshness to hold the sweetness in balance. Persistent and composed on the finish, it pairs naturally with Stilton or walnut tart.
Fonseca 1985 Vintage Port
Portuguese Fortified
Blackberry, blackcurrant and raisin lead an inky, concentrated bouquet, with dark chocolate and a gentle savoury note adding depth. Full-bodied and round, the palate carries abundant fruit over thick, well-integrated tannins. A firm backbone keeps the sweetness composed, while the finish is long and velvety. Decant carefully and serve with Stilton or dark chocolate.