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1985 Calem Vintage Port, 1985 Vintage Port

Sale

Vintage Port In Wooden Presentation Box
Library Release
Special Offer | Was £119 | Now £89

Bottle size: 75cl

ABV: 20%

Price:

$111.92 USD

21 In Stock

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    • Description

    The 1985 Cálem Vintage Port is an exceptional wine from one of Portugal’s most esteemed port houses. Founded in 1859, Cálem is celebrated for crafting ports that combine elegance, structure, and accessibility. The 1985 vintage, widely regarded as one of the greatest of the 20th century, showcases the house’s dedication to quality and its mastery of traditional winemaking.

    The 1985 Vintage
    The 1985 growing season in the Douro Valley was marked by near-perfect conditions, producing wines with exceptional ripeness, concentration, and balance. Declared by most major houses as a vintage year, the ports from 1985 are renowned for their rich fruit, firm structure, and extraordinary aging potential.

    Tasting Notes
    In the glass, the 1985 Cálem Vintage Port reveals a deep ruby core with garnet reflections, hinting at its gradual evolution. The nose is vibrant and layered, offering aromas of blackberries, plums, and ripe cherries, interwoven with notes of dark chocolate, sweet spices, and a touch of vanilla. Subtle undertones of cedar, licorice, and a hint of dried herbs add complexity and refinement.

    On the palate, it is full-bodied and powerful, with a lush, velvety texture. Flavors of dark berries, figs, and raisins dominate, supported by nuances of cocoa, spice, and a whisper of tobacco. The tannins remain firm yet polished, providing structure and balance, while a vibrant acidity enhances the wine’s freshness. The finish is long and satisfying, leaving an impression of sweetness, warmth, and elegance.

    Cálem’s Craftsmanship
    Cálem’s vintage ports are crafted using traditional methods, including foot-treading in granite lagares to extract maximum color and flavor. Grapes are sourced from prime vineyards in the Douro Valley, ensuring the quality and intensity for which the house is renowned. The 1985 vintage exemplifies Cálem’s ability to produce ports with both immediate appeal and the capacity for decades of aging.

    A Collector’s Treasure
    The 1985 Cálem Vintage Port is a wine of remarkable depth and longevity, ideal for collectors and connoisseurs. Perfectly stored bottles continue to evolve, offering a memorable tasting experience that captures the essence of one of the greatest vintages in modern port history. Whether enjoyed now or held for further aging, this wine represents the enduring excellence of Cálem.

    1985 was an outstanding vintage for port and the Calem does not disappoint. The port shows a beautiful and intense garnet colour with ruby highlights. The nose denotes intense aromas of red berries, black cherry, prunes and cinnamon spice. On the palate this is drier style than most of the the English shippers. There is smooth mouthfeel, refreshing acidity and soft tannins. A little sour cherry and redcurrant makes this an interesting twist with layers of dried herbs and spices. Persistent finish. Still has ageing potential. 89/100 Very Good VWP Tasting TC May 2020 - Decanted for 5 hrs before tasting.


    Learn more about Calem

    Condition

    Excellent

    Reviews

    ***89 Points(MS)- Wine Advocate***

    The 1985 Vintage Port is a field blend—heavy on the "big three" of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz and Touriga Franca—coming in just under 106 grams per liter of residual sugar. When I originally saw this about five years back, it showed great. Whether due to the passage of time or just a different bottle, this is not as interesting. It's still good; it has some very modest tannins, but there's still a little bite on the finish. It seems fully resolved at roughly age 35, but perhaps was better and more expressive the next day. What it does best is be mature. That is, it shows the complexity and classic flavors of maturing Port. It is lovely, gentle, fresh and tasty. That said, for the moment, until some other bottle proves otherwise, I'm shortening the drinking window. That's not to say it won't meet the original prediction of 2035 or better, as these do not fall off the table and decline only slowly, but I think some caution is advised. It might be more likely to go down than up at this point.

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