1985 Dow Vintage Port
Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 8:22 pm
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:
Most advanced-looking (could have been a 70/77) very pale from centre of glass to rim. Very dry but not so as to be out of balance
after a few hours:
darkening so as to show a rim now, a Taylor-like tannic kick coming in. Very good now, the best of the three, but will it last?
24 hours:
hasn't lasted the distance, rather multi-layered now with good tannins, but the fruit seems to have dried to rather sickly/cloying flavour. A bit like a ruby that's been in the decanter over a week. (being very harsh here, because this is very acceptable now, but I'm not sure this will be a good bottle in 15 years)
In summary, using the MB 5-star scale I'd say:
Dow: **** 4 now, but not so much life left. At its peak. Drink now-2015
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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:
Most advanced-looking (could have been a 70/77) very pale from centre of glass to rim. Very dry but not so as to be out of balance
after a few hours:
darkening so as to show a rim now, a Taylor-like tannic kick coming in. Very good now, the best of the three, but will it last?
24 hours:
hasn't lasted the distance, rather multi-layered now with good tannins, but the fruit seems to have dried to rather sickly/cloying flavour. A bit like a ruby that's been in the decanter over a week. (being very harsh here, because this is very acceptable now, but I'm not sure this will be a good bottle in 15 years)
In summary, using the MB 5-star scale I'd say:
Dow: **** 4 now, but not so much life left. At its peak. Drink now-2015
Click here to see the original post