Huon Hooke

The colour has lightened off considerably to a medium to pale garnet, and the bouquet is fragrant and floral, ultra-complex and gorgeously aromatic. Rose petals galore. It's soft and light, yet intense on the tongue, effortlessly balanced and showing great line and length, the tannins having mellowed out beautifully. It's entered its ethereal stage. A wonderful bottle of old vintage port.

Verema

Vinum

1985 is considered a top vintage, producing rich and opulent Ports. Taylor’s still displays an intense, deep colour. The nose remains remarkably youthful, with seductive raspberry fruit alongside notes of medicinal herbs and spice, with hints of cedarwood and toffee. Powerful on the palate, with a fruit-driven finish.

Revista Adega, Melhor Vinho

Surely among the best, if not the finest, vintages of the 1980s for Vintage Port. It displays delicious aromas of ripe red and black fruits and fruit liqueur, interwoven with floral, mineral and spicy notes, along with hints of toast, smoke, dried fruit and chocolate. On the palate, it is intense, vibrant and juicy, framed by refreshing acidity and an excellent tannic texture. The finish is full and long, with notes of ripe and preserved cherries. Alcohol: 20%.

Robert Parker

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. Still in its youth, this has great potential and might be over-shadowed by the ensuing two vintages.

Gismondi on Wine

The winter before the 1985 growing season was cold and wet, a harbinger of what was to come. After an early April bud burst, flowering took place in calm conditions at the end of May. A hot summer led right to a large harvest that began on 26th of September. By the end of the crush, most agreed it was an exceptional year. Today the ’85 Taylor is ready to drink. Tasted alongside the more opulent Fonseca, the reserved, dry, elegant styling of Taylor ports are without compare. As per usual, the flavours are multi-dimensional, reflecting the wine's multiple layers and persistence in the mouth. At this point youthful fruit has slipped away, leaving more spicy, figgy, licorice notes, worn edges and mellow nutty notes in the back end. In a perfect space. (Anthony Gismondi).

Jancis Robinson

Fig, Christmas spice, milk chocolate and sweet coffee – really flamboyant and peacockish. A great example of port in all its pomp and grandeur. And still loaded with fruit! Invincible?

Vivino

(980 bedømmelser, "Optræder i Bedste vine til over 500 kr. lige nu", 07-10-2026)