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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42 products found.
Cirò, 1985
Cantina Enotria
The Ciro has a bright ruby red color and transparent. Has an elegant bouquet in which they differ floral and fruity notes: rose, maraschino cherry, red fruit and hints of iodine on a rhubarb and sweet spices. The palate has a right to the body weight in balance and freshness, is intense and soft with a lingering fruity finish and almonds.
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Price: £79.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Clos du Marquis, 1985
St Julien
1985 Clos du Marquis – A Rare & Elegant Saint-Julien
From the prestigious vineyards of Château Léoville Las Cases, the 1985 Clos du Marquis is a beautifully aged Bordeaux that showcases the finesse and complexity of Saint-Julien. Now at its peak, this vintage offers a rare opportunity to experience a mature Left Bank wine with exceptional depth and character.
Refined, Balanced, and Ready to Enjoy
With over four decades of careful aging, this wine displays a silky, well-integrated structure with layers of blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco, and earthy truffle. The tannins have softened gracefully, making this a harmonious and elegant Bordeaux with a long, satisfying finish. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 11 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
Frei Joao, 1985
Frei Joao, Bairrada
Mark a milestone with the 1985 Frei João Bairrada, an exceptional vintage that shares its birth year with someone born in 1985. This wine has matured gracefully over four decades, offering a rare and meaningful way to celebrate life's journey. Perfect for a special occasion, it embodies the elegance and character that only time can provide.
Tasting Notes:
This 1985 vintage reveals a beautifully evolved profile. Aromas of dried red fruits, leather, and subtle spice emerge from the glass, reflecting its long ageing. On the palate, it offers a refined balance of mature cherry and plum, with hints of tobacco, cedar, and earthy undertones. …
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 112 in 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: 1 in Stock
Lago di Caldaro, 1985
Schloss Rametz
Very forward nose of leather and cherries, liquorice wild strawberries, ripe plums and pencil .The palate is very nice balance of sweet fruit and acidity.
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Montepulciano, 1985
d'Abruzzo, Miglianico
Montepulciano is a red wine grape variety grown widely in central Italy, most notably its eastern Abruzzo, Marche and Molise regions. The variety was named after the Tuscan parish of Montepulciano, but, confusingly, is not used in the famous wines produced there (see Vino Nobile di Montepulciano). Globally appreciated for their soft flavors, strong color and gentle tannins, Montepulciano wines are typically best consumed in their youth and with food. The deep-purple juice of Montepulciano grapes is used in varying proportions to produce wines under roughly 50 of Italy's DOC and DOCG titles. Although sometimes used on its own, …
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Montepulciano, 1985
d'Abruzzo, Miglianico
Clearance Offer - pale in colour | Was £59 | Now £39
Excluded from our guarantee
Montepulciano is a red wine grape variety grown widely in central Italy, most notably its eastern Abruzzo, Marche and Molise regions. The variety was named after the Tuscan parish of Montepulciano, but, confusingly, is not used in the famous wines produced there (see Vino Nobile di Montepulciano). Globally appreciated for their soft flavors, strong color and gentle tannins, Montepulciano wines are typically best consumed in their youth and with food. The deep-purple juice of Montepulciano grapes is used in varying proportions to produce wines under roughly 50 of Italy's DOC and DOCG titles. Although sometimes used on its own, …
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Price: £39.00
Stock: 1 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: 4 in Stock
Schiava, 1985
Anton Lindner
This wine from the good 1985 vintage has a medium dark red violet colour. A slightly funky, beef nose with a tart red fruit. On the palate the wine is acidic with vegetal notes. Medium-short finish
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Solopaca Rosso, 1985
Cantina Sco Solopaca
This wine from the good 1985 vintage has a medium dark red violet colour. A slightly funky, beef nose with a tart red fruit. On the palate the wine is acidic with vegetal notes. Medium-short finish
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Taittinger, 1985
Taittinger collection, Roy Lichtenstein edition
*** 93 Points - Parker ***
Roy Lichtenstein (1923–1997) is a beloved New York artist best known for his vibrant Pop Art paintings and prints. These were inspired by comics and advertising, and often reproduce the familiar plot frames, dialogue bubbles and dot printing of comic books. The work most often parodies social norms. His iconic imagery is featured on the 1985 Collection Series bottle.
The Taittinger Collection Series bottles are released only in great vintages, from a selection of the year's finest cuvées. The wines are made from Chardonnay mainly from the Grands Crus of the Côte des Blancs, and Pinot Noir from Montagne de Reims and Vallée de la Marne vineyards. …
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Price: £385.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Valtellina, 1985
Fratelli Bettini
Valtellina is one of Italy’s most dramatic wine regions, located in Lombardy, the vineyards are located on steep mountains. The principal grape variety is Chiavennasca (the local name for Piedmont’s Nebbiolo and an Italian grape varietal that has been cultivated since medieval times here). The DOCG wines are generally comprised of at least 90% Chiavennasca and then blended with other quality local grapes like Brugnola, Rossola, Pignola. Then there is a DOC Valtellina Rosso (also called Rosso di Valtellina DOC) which requires at least 80% of the blend be Chiavennasca and does not have minimum ageing requirements. …
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 6 in Stock
Warre's Vintage Port, 1985
Vintage Port
From the outstanding 1985 Vintage
Reviews: "Lovely orange skins nose, together with nuts and figs. On the palate, it has finesse, elegance and such a sweet kickback. Massively enchanting and, now it is over the magic 20 years, perfection to drink."
Serena Sutcliffe , Cuisine & Wine Asia 2008
Very very dark. Sweet, spicy, liquorice nose. Very broad start to the palate and then dried fruits on the finish. Lots of firm tannins still. Still relatively embryonic. Heat on the finish. Lovely spice on the finish. Not the most stereotypically feminine Warre style of wine. Powerful finish. Almost brawny with some wild fruit and flower flavours on the nose. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 4 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
Rioja, 1985
Bodegas Coral - Don Jacobo
Wine from Rioja (and Ribera del Duero), aged for at least two years in oak and three years in the bottle, made primarily from the Tempranillo grape. Light and red-brown in colour, with intense vanilla aromas and substantial earthy flavour notes. Significant acidity and medium alcohol.
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Price: £69.00
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