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 41 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
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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.
15 products found.
Burmester, 1985
Burmester Colheita In gift tube
Special Offer | Was £129 | Now £99
Offer ends Friday the 3rd of April
The 1985 vintage is widely recognised as a classic year in the Douro, with ideal weather conditions throughout the growing season. A warm, dry summer followed by a well-timed harvest produced grapes of excellent ripeness and balance. While many producers declared Vintage Ports, the vintage also yielded remarkable wines for extended cask ageing. This Colheita captures the essence of that year with over three decades of development, offering an elegant alternative to its Vintage counterparts.
Winemaking
Hand-picked at optimal ripeness, the grapes were destemmed and crushed, then fermented in traditional granite lagares under controlled temperatures (28–30°C). …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 82 in Stock
Croft Port, 1985
Vintage Port
Magnum bottle 1.5L
Includes Magnum Gift Box
Full and robust, this is a classic Croft style with sweet berry aromas. After many years slowly maturing in the cellar, it is now ready and drinking extremely well. Bottled in an impressive 1.5L magnum its size makes it ideal for sharing and perfect for marking 1985 anniversary celebrations, milestone birthdays, weddings, or as a prestigious gift for wine collectors. The magnum format not only enhances ageing but also elevates any occasion with its grand presentation.
Tasting Notes:
This vintage displays rich aromas of dried fruits, …
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Price: £149.00
Stock: 13 in Stock
Dow's, 1985
Vintage Port
New stock arriving shortly - available for pre-order | Please allow 7 days for delivery
The 1985 Dow’s Vintage Port is a standout from a highly successful declared vintage, offering classic structure, depth, and longevity. Dow’s is known for its drier, firmer house style—built more for endurance than immediate opulence—and in 1985, this translated into a wine of superb ageing potential and quiet power. Now with nearly 40 years in bottle, the 1985 Dow is maturing beautifully, combining layered fruit with savoury complexity.
The nose is mature yet vigorous, opening with aromas of black plum, dried fig, and cassis, followed by notes of roasted coffee bean, cedar, tobacco leaf, and dark chocolate. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 12 in Stock
Dow's, 1985
Vintage Port
Private Cellar Release
We are delighted to announce the release of a very limited number of bottles of Dow's 1985 Vintage Ports, drawn directly from Symington Family Estates’ private cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia.
1985 was one of the great classic vintages of the late 20th century. Textbook conditions throughout the growing season – balanced vine growth, a warm dry summer and near-perfect harvest weather – produced concentrated and powerful wines with remarkable ageing potential. Now, after four decades of cellaring in ideal conditions, these Vintage Ports have gained immense complexity and are offered at a glorious stage of maturity. …
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Price: £281.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Graham's, 1985
Vintage Port
Graham’s, 1985
Vintage Port
The 1985 vintage in the Douro is widely regarded as one of the finest declared years of the decade, producing Vintage Ports of richness, balance and impressive longevity. Graham’s, long celebrated for its opulent, fruit-driven house style, released a 1985 that has become one of the standout wines of the vintage.
Sourced from prime vineyards including Quinta dos Malvedos and Quinta do Tua, Graham’s 1985 reflects the house’s hallmark generosity — combining ripe, luscious fruit with firm structure and depth.
Tasting Notes:
Now deep garnet with brick tones beginning to show at the rim, the nose is rich and expressive. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Hooper's Port, 1985
Vintage Port
The 1985 Hooper's Vintage Port is a traditional fortified wine from Portugal's Douro Valley, produced by Richard Hooper & Sons. This vintage is recognized for its deep color and rich flavors, characteristic of ports from that era.
Tasting notes describe the wine as having a medium purple-ruby hue with aromas of fresh raspberry and chocolate. On the palate, it offers full-bodied flavors with plenty of raspberry, silky medium tannins, and a fresh finish . Another review highlights its surprisingly opaque and purple appearance, tightly knit but compact structure, fine depth of fruit, and full body, though it seems to tail off in the finish . …
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Price: £74.50
Stock: 11 in Stock
Smith Woodhouse, 1985
Vintage Port
Bottles By Berry Brothers
Half Bottle - 37.5cl
The 1985 Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port is a distinguished example from a standout vintage year in the Douro Valley. Produced primarily from grapes grown at the estate's Quinta da Madalena vineyard in the Rio Torto Valley, this port reflects the house's commitment to traditional winemaking practices and the unique terroir of its vineyards.
Visually, the wine presents an amber-ruby hue, indicative of its maturity. The nose is expressive, offering aromas of ripe strawberry, cinnamon, and subtle hints of pomegranate and warm spices. On the palate, it delivers a rich intensity with flavors of raspberry, cassis, and caramelized sugar, supported by fine-grained tannins that add structure and depth. …
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Price: £65.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Taylor Fladgate, 1985
Vintage Port
New stock arriving shortly - available for pre-order | Please allow 7 days for delivery
The 1985 Taylor’s Vintage Port is a superb expression of the house’s hallmark style—firm, structured, and capable of great longevity. While not quite as monumental as their legendary 1970 or 1994, the 1985 is a standout from this classic declared vintage, showing the balance and precision that Taylor’s is known for. Now approaching 40 years of age, it has entered a glorious period of maturity, offering power, poise, and aromatic complexity in equal measure.
The nose is deep and captivating, with concentrated aromas of blackberry compote, cassis, and dark plum, layered with violet, spice, and graphite. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Taylor Fladgate, 1985
Vintage Port
Presented in Taylors Gift Box
The 1985 Taylor’s Vintage Port is a superb expression of the house’s hallmark style—firm, structured, and capable of great longevity. While not quite as monumental as their legendary 1970 or 1994, the 1985 is a standout from this classic declared vintage, showing the balance and precision that Taylor’s is known for. Now approaching 40 years of age, it has entered a glorious period of maturity, offering power, poise, and aromatic complexity in equal measure.
The nose is deep and captivating, with concentrated aromas of blackberry compote, cassis, and dark plum, layered with violet, spice, and graphite. …
more >>>
Price: £129.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Taylor Fladgate, 1985
Vintage Port
The 1985 Taylor’s Vintage Port is a superb expression of the house’s hallmark style—firm, structured, and capable of great longevity. While not quite as monumental as their legendary 1970 or 1994, the 1985 is a standout from this classic declared vintage, showing the balance and precision that Taylor’s is known for. Now approaching 40 years of age, it has entered a glorious period of maturity, offering power, poise, and aromatic complexity in equal measure.
The nose is deep and captivating, with concentrated aromas of blackberry compote, cassis, and dark plum, layered with violet, spice, and graphite. …
more >>>
Price: £135.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Warre's Vintage Port, 1985
Vintage Port
Private Cellar Release
We are delighted to announce the release of a very limited number of bottles of Warre's 1985 Vintage Ports, drawn directly from Symington Family Estates’ private cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia.
1985 was one of the great classic vintages of the late 20th century. Textbook conditions throughout the growing season – balanced vine growth, a warm dry summer and near-perfect harvest weather – produced concentrated and powerful wines with remarkable ageing potential. Now, after four decades of cellaring in ideal conditions, these Vintage Ports have gained immense complexity and are offered at a glorious stage of maturity. …
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Price: £228.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Borges, 1985
Vintage Port
1985 Borges Vintage Port
The 1985 vintage produced a number of well-structured and long-lived Vintage Ports, combining ripe fruit with freshness and balance. Borges, a historic Port house founded in the 19th century, crafted a wine in this year that has matured gracefully, offering both depth and classic Douro character.
Tasting Notes:
Deep garnet in colour with gentle brick tones at the rim, the nose opens with aromas of ripe blackberry, plum and cassis, layered with notes of fig, cedarwood and subtle spice. On the palate it is medium to full-bodied, with tannins that have softened over time, revealing a smooth and harmonious texture. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Fonseca Port, 1985
Vintage Port
The 1985 Fonseca is a benchmark vintage Port from one of the Douro’s most esteemed producers. Widely regarded as one of the top Ports of the excellent 1985 vintage, it showcases Fonseca’s trademark richness, flamboyant fruit, and long ageing potential. Now nearing 40 years of age, the wine is in a glorious stage of maturity, offering both power and finesse in equal measure.
On the nose, the wine is intensely aromatic, with layers of black cherry, fig, and plum compote, interwoven with dark chocolate, licorice, and exotic spice. Subtle notes of violets, cigar box, and walnut emerge with air, reflecting both its noble origin and extended bottle age. …
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Price: £129.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Graham's, 1985
Private Cellar Release, Vintage Port
We are delighted to announce the release of a very limited number of bottles of Graham’s 1985 Vintage Ports, drawn directly from Symington Family Estates’ private cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia.
1985 was one of the great classic vintages of the late 20th century. Textbook conditions throughout the growing season – balanced vine growth, a warm dry summer and near-perfect harvest weather – produced concentrated and powerful wines with remarkable ageing potential. Now, after four decades of cellaring in ideal conditions, these Vintage Ports have gained immense complexity and are offered at a glorious stage of maturity. …
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Price: £365.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Niepoort Port, 1985
Vintage Port
From the outstanding 1985 vintage. The excellent Niepoort is one of the smallest producers of port. Their ports are sought after by collectors and port lovers.
"Niepoort is to Vintage Port what Krug is to Champagne. They are both small houses in a world dominated by large competitors but they are producing outstanding wines which very few can match." (James Suckling, Vintage Port).
"The nose is smooth with ripe red fruits and a smooth, dusty, spicy tannic structural character (yes, Ports seem to convey structure by the nose too). The palate is smooth, elegant and spicy showing lots of expression, and a fair bit of fruit. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: Out of Stock