1985 Wine

A politically correct, safely made Cabernet Sauvignon with enough spice, fruit, body, acidity, and alcohol, but little in the way of thrills or excitement. The 1985 is typical of the recent B.V. Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons.... Read More

Fully mature, but capable of lasting another 10-15 years, this flamboyantly scented wine (jammy black fruits, licorice, Asian spices, herbs, grilled meats) is a lusciously rich, opulent, medium to full-bodied, fat and juicy style... Read More

Initially, the nose suggests that all is well and it's really quite expressive with good spice and plenty of lovely mature but not tired, beautifully complex aromas. After approximately 45 minutes of air however, the rich... Read More

The 1985 from cask could have been a lighter version of the 1982 and 1953 vintages. Forward, with a fabulously scented bouquet of pain grille and concentrated red and black fruits (especially black cherries), it is rich, lush,... Read More

This is an extraordinary house that seems to have been particularly successful with its vintage port since 1977.The 1985 is dark-ruby/purple with a rather closed one-dimensional aroma. On the palate, this Dow is restrained, but... Read More

Elegant as always, refined, with blackberry, plum and vanilla character, medium body and silky tannins. Drink now.--The Bordeaux 50. -JS WS

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In some tastings this wine has been controversial because it was alleged to have a damp, woody, musty character. In the March tasting (my seventh look at this brilliant wine), I found it once again to be clean and hardly controversial... Read More

Chave produced the best red Hermitage of this vintage. Yet for Chave 1985 was not a year he cares to remember. Holding back the tears, he sadly states that his beloved mother, as well as his faithful sidekick, his dog, passed... Read More

The 1985 is deliciously opulent, rich, and open knit. The color is a dark ruby/purple with some garnet at the edge. The wine offers a sweet, smoky, melted road tar, black currant-scented nose with toasty oak in the background.... Read More

The sale bottle has been sold. Please email if you are looking for a reduced price 1985 or check our scratch and dent section.

Consistently a low to mid-ninety point Cabernet Sauvignon, Chateau Montelena's 1985 remains frightfully backward at nearly ten years of age. The 1985, 1987, and 1991 have the potential to be three of the longest-lived Montelena... Read More