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Tasting notes
This wine will be released next year, recorked and relabelled as part of their first Private Cellars collection. Inky core. Dark and rich with a hint of mushrooms. A second bottle was more vibrant and did not have the mushroom notes. The second bottle, which is the one I scored, is definitely more fragrant and openly fruity. Firm, powerful and deliciously dry. Fresh, tightly wound, very long. A paragon of power and restraint. Attractively dusty finish. (JH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Saturated black-garnet. Rich, broad and deep nose of fig, prune, dried blackberries and spice, with an overtone of schisty minerality. Voluptuous and rich, with all the depth of crème de cassis to match the still-firm, fine tannins. A beauty of a 1985, built to last. (TJ)
The 1985 Dow’s Vintage Port has a gorgeous, very pure bouquet with mulberry, leather, terracotta tiles on a warm day, and hints of clove all beautifully defined. The palate is very well balanced with supple tannin, lightly spiced on the entry, touches of liquorice and black pepper, curry powder and ginger with a very harmonious and long finish. This may well be the pick of the 1985 declarations and appears to have edged past the Taylor Fladgate 1985 in recent years. (NM)
Dried red cherries with a bit of chilli spice and something like damp earth. Showing its age, but has better fruit balance than the Warre’s 1980. Thick and smooth but doesn’t really show all the potential of port in terms of complexity and length. Doesn’t seem likely to improve much further. (RH)