1985 Taylor Fladgate Porto Vintage
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Tasting notes
Mid garnet. Evident stems in use here, with dried blackberry, some liquorice and stony minerality. Full bodied, with a fair weight of fig and Christmas-cake flavour, though the tannins just stick out a little. Plenty of chocolate-laced length, even if this isn’t the best bottle I’ve had from Taylor’s 1985. (TJ)
Critic scores
Jancis Robinson MW
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
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.
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? (RH)
Bright crimson. Bright aromas but a bit indistinct and simple. Really stodgy and dry on the palate with a hot end and no charm. Maybe a bit youthful. Tricky: dull or young? Concentrated but not (yet?) fine. (JR)