1985 Churchill
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Tasting notes
Johnny Graham’s favourite year of the 1980s. Deep ruby. Vegetal note and fine acidity. Smooth and much drier than the 1982. Still some tannin. Real freshness here – and a nice bit of grip. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Second bottle, with both showing similar characteristics. Mid tawny. Quite musty and flattened aromas. Some flavour depth, but the mustiness just clouds the palate too. I can’t score this. (TJ)
A new house, Churchill's 1985 showed extremely well in my tastings. Dark ruby/purple with a projected full-intensity bouquet of ripe plums, licorice, and fruitcake, full bodied, seductively soft, rich, and concentrated, this overly fruity wine seems precocious and only 5-7 years away from maturity. It is deep, delectable and delicious.
Medium ruby-garnet, with a light edge. Lots of blueberry and licorice on the nose, with hints of balsam. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a medium finish. Medium sweet. A bit one-dimensional and drying a bit. A little volatile. '77/'85/'97 blind Port retrospective. Drink now. – James Suckling , Wine Spectator 2008