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From the ‘Emergency’ 1985 horizontal on Wednesday 26th December 2007, in which we tasted Dow 1985, Infantado 1985, two bottles of Ramos Pinto 1985, Graham 1985, Warre 1985, Croft 1985, and Offley 1968 Colheita.

The following day, Thursday 27th December 2007, these bottles were joined by Taylor 1985 and Andresen 1985.

Also see the review of the evening as a whole, and thread in which this tasting was arranged.

Graham 1985: the prettiest red of the day, described by RSH as a “merlot color†. But what bottle stink!

Half an hour later the bottle stink had gone, revealing Graham’s classic red fruits, with little heat and a fine port. But fifteen minutes later it’s back, and terrible. It was on-and-off all evening. Weirdly random.

best colored wine of the bunch with a clear ruby red color.

huge amount of bottle stink that disappears after an hour only to come back again after some more time. (very weird as we spent the night trying to catch the drinking window)

The bottle stink really hit me and I didn't enjoy this at all.

However when the stink blew away, loads of red fruit, but a touch of something funny that I couldn't put my hands on.

Sweet baked fruit with a sugar cane finish that lasts 30+ seconds.

Hangover gone; glasses cleaned; dinner cooking. Time to write-up my tasting notes.

On the second day the Graham was still horrible. Whatever was hiding behind the bottle stink was too well hidden for me. Foul—and a great shame, as I have had several excellent G85s.
☹

Ending its life as an ingredient in an English-style spaghetti bolognese. It’s the only language they understand.

A bad bottle of Graham 1985. Dark in color, aroma of smelly sneakers. Nutty, chocolately flavors, but the bottle stink was just awful. 70 pts.