1985 Taylor

[jdaw1]

At Wolfgang’s excellent instigation, we gathered in the Bung Hole to quality-assure a batch of Taylor 1985.

Links:

• Review of the evening as a whole;
• 1985 Taylor:
  • T85 (α alpha);
  • T85 (β beta);
  • T85 (γ gamma);
  • T85 (δ delta);
  • T85 (ε epsilon);
  • T85 (ζ zeta);
• 1994 Tesco;
• Placemats (and parameters by which constructed);
• Planning and arrangements.

[jdaw1]

T85 (δ delta): decanted 1pm, much effort being need to push the cork. At 7pm the taste having darker fruit than the others, with some heat late. Perhaps my favourite.

[Alex Bridgeman]

One of 6 bottles from the same case of Taylor 1985 consumed at the same tasting to investigate how much bottle variation could be found in bottles that had good and identical provenance. The bottles were of very similar appearance in the glass, looking to be brick red and in the early stages of maturity and 60% opaque, with only Bottle 2 being slightly more brown than the others.

Bottle 4: Fragrant nose with hints of VA that adds a pear drop complexity to a deep meat and juniper. Soft and sweet on entry, lovely fruit with a wonderful structure on the initial impact. Sweet, slightly lacking in acidity on the mid-palate but comes back into focus beautifully on the late palate. Charcoal tannins and a nice dryness make themselves seen gently. Gentle fruit carries through to the very long finish. A fine showing for this port. 88/100.