1985 Wine and Port Vintage
Vintage Summary and Recommendations: 
Welcome to Vintage Wine and Port's 1985 wine page. Read on for our summary of the 1985 vintage, our top recommendations and region reports. Scroll down to see all of our wines currently available. If you cannot find what you are looking for please call us on 01425 837177 or Contact Us. We would love to help you with your wine choice!
1985 is unanimously regarded as a wonderful vintage for much of the wine world, especially in Europe.
Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhône and Champagne all put out extraordinary vintages; some, like Champagne, are even regarded as a vintage of the decade. Safe to say, there should still be a wide range of 1985 French wine still drinking well today, particularly long-lived reds from the major growing regions. Italy was also exceptionally good. The Port vintage was universally declared and there will be many great Ports still drinking well today and quite likely for some time still to come. Any of these wines would make a fabulous 40 year old wine gift for an Anniversary or birthday.
Our Wine Expert currently recommends the following wines for this year:
This Year in History: Fun Fact: Walt Disney World received its 200-millionth guest.
Eurovision Winner: Norway with the song " La Det Swinge" by Bobbysocks
Top Grossing Movie: Back to the Future
Bordeaux: The 1985 wine vintage produced examples that are characterised by being well developed, rich and having a seductive complexity with an attractive perfume. A drought for much of August and September led to concentrated grapes at harvest. The wines have now generally gone through the peak of their maturity and should be drunk within the next few years.
Italian: 1985 was an outstanding vintage for Italian wines, one of the best in the last 50 years for Piedmont and Tuscany. The vintage produced wines of great consistency, and the best wines should be great.
Portugal:
The 1985 is a great classic Port Vintage, with concentrated, rich and potent wines. The year was a general declaration of vintage, the majority of Houses judging it to be up to their high standards. 1985 was a model year for the growth of the vines: a wet winter followed by a moderate spring led into an extremely warm June and a hot July and August. The harvest took place under perfect weather conditions, and the fermentations went well also. From the very start shippers were predicting outstanding wines. The resulting ports are characterised as being forward with enormous structure, and staggering depth, dimension, and length. They are at the peak of their maturity and will remain so for another 10-15 years. Spain: 1985 was a near-perfect vintage for Spanish wines, with a warm summer and a perfect ripening season. The wines produced are generally easy-drinking wines of medium intensity. About 10% of wine went into Gran Reserva production.
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17 products found.
1985 Calem Vintage Port, 1985
Vintage Port In Wooden Presentation Box
Library Release
The 1985 Cálem Vintage Port is an exceptional wine from one of Portugal’s most esteemed port houses. Founded in 1859, Cálem is celebrated for crafting ports that combine elegance, structure, and accessibility. The 1985 vintage, widely regarded as one of the greatest of the 20th century, showcases the house’s dedication to quality and its mastery of traditional winemaking.
The 1985 Vintage
The 1985 growing season in the Douro Valley was marked by near-perfect conditions, producing wines with exceptional ripeness, concentration, and balance. Declared by most major houses as a vintage year, the ports from 1985 are renowned for their rich fruit, firm structure, and extraordinary aging potential. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 4 in Stock
Palmer Port
40 Year Old Tawny Port
Exclusive to Vintage Wine and Port
Tasting Notes: The Palmer 40 Year tawny is a careful blend of many traditional grape varieties from selected vineyards in various areas of the Douro Demarcated Region, patiently aged to resemble the taste of a port that was aged for 40 years in old oak casks. The 40 Year old has a pronounced aroma intensity that is very rich with nuts and baked cherry. There is further complexity of nutmeg and cream. On the palate the wine is very balanced between acidity and sweetness that gives a luxurious mouthfeel. Lovely richness of fruitcake, fig, baked plum, caramel and toffee. There are also notes of plum, cherry, cooked strawberry. …
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Price: £89.95
Stock: 21 in Stock
Quevedo
40 Year Old Tawny port
*** 94 Points - Wine Advocate ***
*** 95 Points - Wine Enthusiast ***
The 40 year old Port combines the talent of 3 generations. João, Oscar Sr. and Cláudia combined their effort in the cellar to blend this balanced, intense and complex very old Tawny, pairing the concentration from Port wine aging in the Douro with the elegant style of Quevedo’s Tawny.
Produced using Hand-harvested, sustainable and dry farmed grapes, fermented in traditional Granite (vats) lagares. Aged and matured in seasoned chestnut casks and unfiltered.
Tasting notes
The colour is amber with green hints.
The aroma is a complex and intense expression with notes of citrus marmalade, dry fruits, nutmeg, marzipan and almond essence. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 28 in Stock
Quinta da Devesa
40 year old Tawny Port in presentation box (75cl)
*** 94 Points- Wine Advocate ***
This Port Wine is the result of a blend of aged wine from Quinta da Devesa, developed with noble grapes used in the Douro region, aged in wooden casks at the Quinta da Devesa cellars.
Learn more about Quinta da Devesa
Tasting Notes:
Clean, intense auburn. The aromas are very complex, with predominant notes of nuts and honey. Soft flavour and very velvety in the mouth.
40 Year Tawny Quinta da Devesa Technical Sheet
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Price: £89.00
Stock: 27 in Stock
Quinta da Devesa
40+ year old White Port in presentation box (50cl)
92 Points- Wine Advocate
Quinta da Devesa Port Wines are produced exclusively from lots vinified and aged in the estate. Since 1941, vintages considered of superior quality by the family winemakers, were kept and stored in wooden barrels in the winery cellars.
Learn more about Quinta da Devesa
Tasting Notes:
The NV 40 Year White Port is a field blend bottled in 2019 with a bar-top cork, 20% alcohol and 112 grams of sugar. It is mainly a blend this year of the 1967 and 1970 (although different casks than those used for the 1970 White Colheita this issue). …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: 33 in Stock
Burmester, 1985
40 Year Old 'TORDIZ' Tawny Port, Douro | Presented In Gift Tube
UK Exclusive to VWP
*** 95 Points- Wine Advocate ***
*** Gold Medal at the 2015 International Wine Challenge ***
Bright brown colour, with greenish nuances. Presents a bouquet with intense aromas of dried fruits, delicate spices notes and a sweet touch of honey. In the taste it is full, unctuous and velvety. This wine overflows seduction and an enormous refinement. A feeling that is extended in the long and complex finish.
This 40-year-old wine owes its name, Tordiz, to the confluence of the Torto and Mendiz rivers. It is obtained from wines that have been carefully aged in small oak casks and later blended in a small upstanding oak vat dating from 1864. …
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Price: £139.00
Stock: 12 in Stock
Kopke
40 Year Old Tawny Port
Includes Kopke Wooden Gift Box
Decanter 2021- Silver Award Winner
This Kopke 40 Year Old Tawny Port is a beautifully balanced and richly complex wine, perfect for savouring on special occasions. Its intricate layers of flavours and aromas make it a delightful experience for the palate, showcasing the masterful aging process and the quality of the port.
Tasting Notes
Deep amber with mahogany highlights, indicating aging. Its aromas include dried fruits, caramel, toffee, butterscotch, roasted nuts, vanilla, and spices. The palate is smooth and luscious, with a pronounced sweetness and well-integrated acidity. The texture is velvety and full-bodied, offering a luxurious mouthfeel. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 6 in Stock
Kopke, 1985
Colheita Port
Presented in Kopke Gift Box
***95 Points- GOLD Medal- IWC 2024***
***95 Points- GOLD - Decanter 2024***
The 1985 Kopke Colheita Port is a cask aged port from a single vintage, known for its exceptional quality and complex flavour profile, reflecting the meticulous aging process it undergoes.
Tasting notes
Deep amber appearance and a complex flavour profile. Its aroma is rich and expressive, with dried fruits, caramel, toffee, honey, roasted nuts, and spices. The palate is smooth and velvety, with a well-rounded sweetness and a nuttiness. The finish is long, lingering, and luxurious, with flavours of dried fruits, caramel, and nuts persisting beautifully.
Serving & Food Pairing:
Colheita Ports are ready-to drink and do not require decanting. …
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Price: £84.45
Stock: 11 in Stock
Kopke
40 Year Old White Port - Half Bottle 375ml in wooden presentation box
Kopke Port is the oldest port house. Established in 1638 by Nicolau Kopke and his son Cristiano, who came to Portugal as representatives of the Hanseatic League, the House has been run through the generations by several representatives of the Kopke family, obtaining an excellent reputation for its wines.
An extremely rare bottle of port that has been aged to resemble the taste of a 40 year old aged White Port. Please note that these are half bottles.
Review:
This Kopke 40 Years Old presents a blondish bright color and a fine and very complex nose, which features dried fruits such as figs and hazelnuts, some candied orange and velvety notes of honey and even citrus fruits. …
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Price: £89.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Messias
40 Year Old White Port
50cl in own gift tube
The Messias 40 Year Old White Port showcases a remarkable light amber colour with hints of mahogany. The nose unfolds with layers of complexity, offering rich aromas of caramelized nuts, and apricot, interwoven with delicate notes of vanilla bean and aged honey. On the palate, it’s an indulgent experience, with flavours of rich butterscotch, and toasted almonds. The wine’s age is evident in its silky texture and extraordinary depth, while a vibrant acidity provides balance and freshness. The finish is long and opulent, with a lingering sweetness and a touch of spice that leaves a memorable, luxurious impression. …
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Price: £89.95
Stock: 22 in Stock
Messias
40 Year Old Tawny Port
In gift Tube
***93 Points Mark Squires - Wine Advocate***
Very pale amber/tawny/orange colour. Fine and delicate aromas of hazelnuts and candied citrus. Quince marmalade character, delicate in style, with finesse and poise. Seemingly quite dry in style towards the finish (not as obviously rich as some here), and supremely refined.
Learn more about Messias
Learn more about 40-year-old tawny
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Price: £89.95
Stock: 45 in Stock
Quinta Das Carvalhas
40 Year Old Tawny Port
** 94 Points - Wine Enthusiast **
Special Offer | Save £20 | Was £119 | Now £99
The Quinta das Carvalhas 40 Year Old Tawny Port is not just a wine; it’s an experience. Whether you're gifting it to someone special or indulging in it yourself, this wine promises to deliver a memorable and luxurious tasting experience that reflects the very best of what the Douro Valley has to offer.
Tasting notes
Deep amber colour with a golden rim. A a luxurious blend of complex aromas, including hints of honey, nutmeg, vanilla, and subtle oak, all of which are indicative of its lengthy aging process. A 40 Year Old Tawny that boasts intense flavours of dried fruits like figs and apricots, alongside notes of toasted almonds, caramel, and rich spices. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 30 in Stock
Croft Port, 1985
Vintage Port
Magnum bottle (1.5L)
The 1985 Croft Vintage Port is another excellent example of Croft’s long-standing reputation for producing high-quality Port. The 1985 vintage was widely declared across the Douro Valley, marking it as a year of exceptional wines. Croft's 1985 Vintage Port is particularly noted for its opulent fruit, richness, and balance, with great potential for long aging.
Key Characteristics:
Color: Still a deep ruby or garnet, though starting to show hints of tawny at the rim due to age.
Nose: Aromas of ripe blackberries, plums, and cherries, complemented by secondary notes of spices, chocolate, dried fruits, and a touch of floral elegance. …
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Price: £149.00
Stock: 40 in Stock
Quinta do Noval, 1985
Vintage Port
The 1985 Quinta do Noval is light, elegant, and charming. The 1985 is quite concentrated having a cherry red colour. It is seductive, and amazingly delicious now that it is fully mature. Fresh, herby edge to the spicy nose.
Learn more about Quinta do Noval
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 11 in Stock
Ferreira, 1985
Ferreira Vintage Port
This Port is now beginning to reach its full maturity and is ready for drinking. As it ages further, it will begin to develop gently into a more tawny style Port. This Port should probably be drunk over the next few years although it is still showing remarkable balance and finesse.
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Price: £119.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Graham's Port, 1985
40 Year Old Tawny Port
New Edition
Graham's 40 Year Old Tawny. A truly remarkable wine cared for across generations. A great testament to the arts of blending, cooperage, and ageing. Aged for an average of 40 years in seasoned oak casks, our 40 Year Old Tawny is a testament to time and patience. Composed of wines put aside generations ago, this is an incredible wine with an amazingly long finish, indicating both its age and immense quality.
Graham's 40 Years Old Tawny is made from wines of the very highest quality which, following careful selection, are matured in seasoned oak casks of until their peak of maturity is reached. …
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Price: £219.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Sandeman
40 Year Old Tawny Port
***95 Points- GOLD Winner- IWC 2024***
***95 Points- Gold - Decanter 2024***
Comes in Original Gift Tube
The Sandeman 40 Year Old Tawny Port is a luxurious and complex aged tawny port, known for its exceptional depth and sophistication. This port is the result of meticulous blending and extended aging in oak casks, which imparts rich flavours and a smooth, refined character.
Tasting Notes
Deep amber with golden and greenish highlights, indicating a long aging process. Its aroma is intricate, with notes of dried fruits, toasted nuts, caramel, honey, spice, vanilla, and oak. The palate is remarkably smooth, rich, and full-bodied, with a harmonious blend of dried fruits, toffee, caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, and citrus. …
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Price: £149.00
Stock: Out of Stock