Vintage Port 1985

93 points, “Aromas of walnuts, dried fruit and raisins. Surprisingly rich and powerful. Yet medium-bodied now. Concludes with a nutty finish. Beautiful.” – James Suckling

1985 was a vintage that did a dramatic U-turn, rolling from a wet start to the year into a long, hot summer. The result was arguably the greatest Port vintage of the 1980s.

This is a surprisingly elegant and refined Dow’s, brimming with notes of raisin, clove, red berries, toasted nuts, dried fig and pepper. We recommend standing the bottle upright for half an our before intending to decant, then pour it steadily into your decanter until the sediment begins to appear. A fine choice for festive fare and mature cheese (aged Cheddar and stinky Stilton) or as a gift for marking a special 1985 anniversary.

Dow’s – owned by the Symington family – ranks amongst Port’s most famous names and is renowned for its powerhouse style. Their coveted releases use grapes from the phenomenal Quinta do Bomfim vineyard and tend to be drier and exceptionally long-lived. The Symington family are trusted hands because they are the world’s leading producer of premium Port and the biggest vineyard owner in the Douro Valley – a UNESCO World Heritage Site of jaw-dropping beauty. The company is also B-Corp Certified, which means they are also on it when it comes to the environment, sustainability, their people, their supply chain and giving back to the community.