1985 Taylor Vintage Port

[Stuart Chatfield]

Just had an '85 vertical of Taylor, Graham and Dow. I'm still perplexed by 85s and can't make my mind up. I feel they have a real staying-power, but somehow are not so enjoyable now. They could turn out great, but might fade away to be an odd mix of dried-out fruit with loads of tannins with no job left to do. (Perhaps like 60?) I have to say I still can't decide. I think Dow is best now, Graham will last longest but Taylor will end up the best. I agree with Tom's recent post saying that MB may have over-rated Grahams. However, he might be right about the Taylor. (However, I must add that I tend to be a Taylor/Dow fan rather than a Graham/Fonseca one, preferring the drier, simpler style). Sorry, still confused by this vintage and I don't think I've contributed much to the board by these muddled, indecisive notes.

Those 80s vintages are still like a Cinderella vintage, compared with the 60s and 70s. Its odd that only Dow 80 (and maybe Taylor 85) get top marks from me in the whole decade.

My notes, tasted at opening, 1/2 hours and 24 hours:

on opening:
Average colour for age, a little browning on the rim, well balanced, quite dry and cheek-drying tannins, distinctive Taylor nose

after a few hours:
very little change, a little darkening of colour but a real stoical one this, taste has not changed in 2 hours

24 hours:
has softened and very well balanced now, tannins still very evident but the whole picture with this is of a wine needing another decade, still a lot of fruit in there to match the Taylor tannins

In summary, using the MB 5-star scale I'd say:

Taylor: ***(**) as in 3 now, might reach 5 in due course. Drink now-2025

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