Taylor - Vintage Port 1985

Druerne til Vintage-portvinene fra Taylor’s dyrkes i Dourodalen på Taylor’s egne vingårde, samt finere marker Quinta de Vargellas og Quinta de Terra Feita, hvis jorde begge er klassificeret i gruppe A, som er den absolut bedste gruppe. Mikroklimaerne på de to gårde er meget forskellige, og det resulterer i komplekse og kraftige portvine, som er særdeles velegnede til henlægning.

Om Vintage Port siges der, at den er drikkelig efter 4-5 år, men at den først virkelig kan nydes efter 15-20 år. Pga. det naturlige depôt, der er i Vintage Port, skal man huske at lade flasken stå oprejst i 48 timer, inden man åbner den – på den måde falder bundfaldet til bunds. Derefter bør man forsigtigt dekantere portvinen, således at bundfaldet bliver i flasken. Portvinen er klar til servering 2-3 timer efter dekanteringen – og bør drikkes inden for 24 timer efter åbningen.

Årgangen 1985 blev indledt af en usædvanlig kold, våd vinter. Knopperne kom frem tidligt i april og blomstrede omkring slutningen af ​​maj. Sommeren var varm hele vejen igennem, og høsten startede den 26. september. Ved høstens afslutning var det tydeligt, at året havde produceret portvine af enestående kvalitet.

Vingårdens hjemmeside Her og en lille video HER

93 points John Gilman

 I have had this wine a number of times out of half bottle over the last few years, and it is a lovely drink in the smaller-sized format. However, in 750 ml. it is not even remotely near ready. The nose is deep and still rather reticent in this size, reluctantly offering up a fine mix of cassis, black cherry, tobacco, a bit of tar, violets, smoke and spicy wood. On the palate the wine is full-bodied and very well-delineated, with a rock solid core of fruit currently buttoned up tight behind a wall of ripe tannin. The finish is long, complex and palate staining, with more than a bit of firm tannin perking up at the close. This is a bigger wine than the 1983 Taylor, and should ultimately prove to be a significant step up from that fine wine. Give it a bit of time. Drink between 2010-2060.  (2/2007)

93 points Wine Spectator

 Medium ruby. Beautiful aromas of flowers and fresh plum, with hints of stems. Full-bodied and medium-sweet, with gorgeous silky tannins and a long, long finish. This is just starting to come around and offers wonderful flavors. Long life ahead, but ready to try. (JS, Web Only—2008) 

91 points Vinous

 The 1985 Taylor’s Vintage Port was one of my 'go-to' Ports around 20 years ago, however, I suspect it has lost some of its initial vigor since then. It just lacks the gumption on the nose that I expected, yet it is still attractive with red berry fruit, clove and dried fig. It is rather muffled compared to say, the 1992 or 1994. The palate is lightly spiced, quite peppery on the entry, a fleshier take on Taylor’s although, this bottle suggests has lost some of its substance in recent years. Perfectly drinkable now but I would not cellar this as long as the aforementioned vintages. Tasted at the 'Big Fortified Tasting' in London. (NM)  (6/2018)

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? 18.5/20 points. (RH)  (5/2018)

K&L Notes

Robert Parker in the Wine Advocate: "This house must certainly be the Latour of Portugal. Their ports are remarkably backward yet still impressive when young. Of all the vintage ports, those of Taylor need the longest time to mature and even when fully mature seem to have an inner strength and firmness that keep them going for decades." (12/1988)

Firmaet Taylor's - eller Taylor, Fladgate & Yeatman, som det helt korrekt hedder - er over 300 år gammelt. Taylor's er stadig et personligt ejet familiefirma, som er fuldstændig uafhængigt. Taylor's hovedsæde er beliggende i Vila Nova de Gaia. Her afskibes portvinene, som eksporteres til mindst 54 lande verden over - derudover sælges portvinene selvfølgelig også i Portugal. Druerne til portvinene fra Taylor's dyrkes i Dourodalen på Taylor's egne tre vingårde; Quinta de Vargellas, Quinta de Terra Feita og Quinta do Junco. Portvinene fra Taylor's var, er og vil fortsat være nogle af de største portvine!