Dow's, Vintage Port

Rather soft and elegant - consistent with Dows/ Grahams characteristics for the vintage. Still plenty of dried black fruits, prunes but remains juicy fresh.

1985 vintage

Delicious. The pleasant Dow's dryness has melded together with silky soft aged tannins and sharp fruit. Very well balanced. Should be consumed at a few degrees below the normal for VP's, as the alcohol becomes a bit too pronounced as it warms up

1985 vintage

Private cellar release direct from Porto - recorked. Very deep colour, pale rim, Fresh and spicy, dark fruit, really rich, Tannic, meaty, this tastes so young! Rich, complex, very young. This is going to last for years. 18/20

1985 vintage

Kurzprobe Portweinmesse Leverkusen 2025 recent Library Release of 900 bottles

1985 vintage

pale ruby colour with clear orange rind,after 30 minutes a fine bouquet appeared, on the palate licorice, dark chocolate. Some dryness in the aftertaste revealed the producer!

1985 vintage

More pale color than the 85 Graham...some spice...elegant style. nice.

1985 vintage

Symington's Quinta do Bomfim - Tour and tasting (Pinhāo, Portugal) : Dark fruit, some red fruit, fig, chocolate, spices, cinnamon, caramel, leather, tobacco, and molasses, with good acidity, ripe, round tannin, and superb length. Seems very youthful for its age, drinks like a Vintage Port 15 years younger. The most complex of the lineup, with great freshness. Becoming smoother, and more balanced and integrated as it breathes. A great Vintage Port!

1985 vintage

Cork came out in 2 pieces (plus a few small crumbles) using a corkscrew. The intensity of aromas coming out were like Robin Williams's Genie finally being freed. Wine was filtered twice through an aerator and decanted for 8 hours. Was able to get near 100% of the wine out. Medium tawny color, especially while pourinf. Aromas of candied cherry, molasses, warmth. Tastes the same. I could bathe in this. It's singing, and boy does it want to be heard. …

1985 vintage

Second of three stunningly pristine bottles via WineBid. The first, opened tonight as well, was brutally corked, by far the worst I’ve seen. I am not very TCA sensitive and this was obvious from the moment the cork came out of the bottle. Luckily this second bottle was sound and singing. This is drinking brilliantly at 40 years old. The cork came out easily in one piece with an Ah-So and looked and felt like I could have gotten it …

1985 vintage

ibid prior - a joy

1985 vintage

One of the best ports I have ever drank! Not toooooooo port-like, and easy to drink. Absolutely stunning! Will be looking for more of this wherever I may be able to find it.

1985 vintage

Still youthful at 30!. Decanted 3 hours before serving. A bright red color when poured with zero hint of orange on the rim. Lots of red friuit (cherry), a hint of cinnamon and orange peel. No notes of chocolate or tobacco. (it did start fading after about 36 hours - not that there was much left from dinner).

1985 vintage

Gave to Mukesh

1985 vintage

Guys Port Weekend - Vegas, April 2024; 4/25/2024-4/27/2024 (Las Vegas, Nevada) : Amber in color. Aromas of red fruit, raspberry, and cherry. The palate is complex and well-balanced, featuring layers of dried red berries, tobacco, and spice. This has a long finish with bright acidity.

1985 vintage

Tasted on 3/16/24 as part of a port tasting.

1985 vintage

First of two bottles. This was best after a little air. It's not the best '85 I've had, but it was lovely and definitely worth seeking out.

1985 vintage

Slightly past prime, but still wonderful

1985 vintage

Guys Port Weekend - Vegas, Jan 2024; 1/25/2024-1/26/2024 : Decanted for 3.5 hours. Amber and clear in color. The nose is slightly closed, showing red fruit notes of cherry and cranberry. Smooth on the palate with raspberry, lovely spices, and structured tannins. A long finish with just a touch of spirit.

1985 vintage

By the glass. A year that has been difficult to ripen. On the nose you receive a perfume of dried apricots and figs with pepper. No signs of death on the palate. Still dense and heavy. Dry and slightly tannic at the end but in a masculinly seductive way. Aged to perfection. Por copas. Una añada a la que le ha costado madurar. En nariz te recibe un perfume de orejones e higos con pimienta. Sin muestras de fallecimiento al …

1985 vintage

(BYO Blind tasting) Quite full nose. Blackberry, figs and elegant spiciness. Still youthful with some mineral complexity. Pure, medium-fullish and spicy palate. Balanced sweetness. Black fruit, but lacks depth and complexity. Dryish finish.

1985 vintage

It's been 7 years since I opened a bottle of this. It's a little lighter than my previous notes suggest - bordering on a tawny style. Not sure if it's the bottle or just how the wine has evolved. Nice all the same.

1985 vintage

I’m biased, I’ve never had a bad bottle of the 85. Opened Christmas evening and drank over the next week with various family and friends, everyone liked it. Years ahead of it still for my taste.

1985 vintage

Not the best of the 1985 ports, this bottle was showing some age: past peek in my opinion. No bricking but dark fruit not as forward as other bottles. Went very well with the flourless chocolate tart with raspberry sauce. Sipped on intermittently for another week and it held up from opening.

1985 vintage

Nice accompaniment for flourless chocolate torte with raspberry sauce, then straight sipping. Not a coy as I had hoped but a lingering finish of strong fruit and some faint hints of spice and leather.

1985 vintage

Decanted and served within 30 minutes of opening Still quite primary. Although it was quite delicious and concentrated, and others at the tasting felt it was at a sweet spot, for my own palate it would benefit for another 10-15 years at least. Quite open on the nose, with a bit of volatility, tannins that were still quite noticeable but not obstrusive. Some but limited tertiary development. More interesting on the palate than the nose. Off dry (reflecting the house …

1985 vintage

Excellent Port. Still plenty of acidity to keep it going yet the hints of cocoa and Kirsch were well integrated.

1985 vintage

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Dow's, Vintage Port

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