The Auswine Forum

Hi all,

Merry X-mas/New years. Hope you all have a very enjoyable and safe holiday period.

Just hoping to get a little advice from people more experienced than myself. I have been seeing an amazingly pretty, generous, intelligent etc etc woman for the last few months and would like to get her a few gifts for her upcoming b/day. She enjoys wine but is not quite as into it as myself. I thought a birth year wine or 2 would be a really nice little surprise but I am not particularly familiar with older wines, especially international wines.

Wondering if anyone can recommend a few wines to look out for from 1985??

I would prefer wines available from retail/Langtons under $150 and more suited to a young wine drinker (yes I'm aware that's a silly statement) I guess I mean nothing likely to be too bretty/challenging.


Much thanks
Dave

Your price may be a little light on, but it was a really good Champagne vintage. It was quite a poor Sth Australian vintage.

Sorry I can't be of more value....

Had a 1985 Wolf Blass Black Label (Magnum) last month that was holding up quite nicely. Big oaky wine with soft integrated fruit that drank nicely over a very long lunch.

Wines from the Rhone Valley were kickass in 85. From north (Cote-Rotie) to south (Chateauneauf du Pape). It's possible to get great 85 Rhones at that price.

It was also a great vintage in Tuscany, so you may find a solid Tuscan for that price too.

what about Ports or Armagnac? few places online easily can be found sold in Australia.

Panda 9D wrote:Wines from the Rhone Valley were kickass in 85. From north (Cote-Rotie) to south (Chateauneauf du Pape). It's possible to get great 85 Rhones at that price.

It was also a great vintage in Tuscany, so you may find a solid Tuscan for that price too.

Fully agree - a 1985 Guigal Cite-Rotie was one of this year's memorable wines.

1985 was a good vintage in Bordeaux as well.

-- George Krashos

Thanks for the advice guys.

I am thinking a French red followed by a vintage fortified. Any specific recommendations greatly appreciated.

Pity she's wasn't born in 1983 as I have a Penfolds Grange in the wine fridge and I would have been happy to have an excuse to open it. May have to trade her in for a slightly older model

Dave, I would usually recommend Stanton and Killeen vintage fortified. If you give them a quick bell, and ask nicely, I know they have the 1985 in their cellars...and it would be a lot less than $150! Tahbilk also have good reserves of older wines, and may be worth a call.

Good luck on the French red...sounds like a lottery to me!

Simon

Thanks Simon, I will take your advice. the French red thing may be a bit of a lottery (especially with my very limited understanding/experience with French wines). I do enjoy Stanton & Killeen so that is a definite option.

If you get desperate I have a 1985 Seppelt Para Liqueur you can have.

I think I paid around $65 for it about 4 years ago. No box or anything though.

Is it just me or does fortified seem about as romantic as a power drill? Being born in 1985 makes her less than 100. I don't know many casual wine drinking girls that dig fortified wine.

I could be wrong.

Don't know what the romance level of a fortified is, but your first line is just sensational!!!!!
Many thanks Panda.

Panda 9D wrote:Is it just me or does fortified seem about as romantic as a power drill? Being born in 1985 makes her less than 100. I don't know many casual wine drinking girls that dig fortified wine.

I could be wrong.

From my experience most casual wine drinking females would prefer a sweeter, style Port, Muscat, Tokay over a 1985 Rhone or whatever with it's leather, saddle bag, earthy, band aid, chicken poo aromas. One thing all the Pre-Mix drinks have in common is that they are all universally sweet and they seem to be the most prevalent imbibing mechanism for women.

Fortified + Dark Chocolate + fireplace is pretty romantic. Then she can unwrap the sandwich maker you got for her

I agree with Dave .... provided the fortified wine is a nice and sweet style (Tawny Port, Muscat, Tokay) and not a young brash Vintage Port say or some oddball fortified then I reckon its usually a winner wiv ze ladiez

Some quality comedy in this thread, had me genuinely laughing out loud.

Dave, fwiw, Im guessing your partner isn't a wine geek, so based on my (low) understanding of women I'd bet on her being excited by whatever 1985 bottle you go with, the effort of you searching far and wide, the story of canvassing wine forums etc... realizing that you did all this for her.
Based on that, I'd probably go with something you genuinely want to drink.

Dave Vinos port idea sounds pretty solid, although might need a mountain lodge/colder climate to merit a fire. Do you have a pair of cheesy Christmas jumpers handy?

It is a declared port vintage. I think the Stanton and Killeen and the Seppelt Para suggestions are both great options. If you want to look at vintage port then look for Dow's and Warre's. Not sure you can get a Fonseca at that price but if you can then jump on it. Great port! Taylor's is starting to emerge but not the best drinking of these options.

cheers

Carl

Wouldn't it be easier if she just seasonally adjusted her birth year to 1986?

I have drunk Warre's 85 twice recently: an outstanding wine, currently pitch perfect. Graham's is no slouch, too, with Dow's close behind.

simon1980 wrote:Dave, I would usually recommend Stanton and Killeen vintage fortified. If you give them a quick bell, and ask nicely, I know they have the 1985 in their cellars...and it would be a lot less than $150! Tahbilk also have good reserves of older wines, and may be worth a call.

Good luck on the French red...sounds like a lottery to me!

Simon

I have several of the '85 S&K VP and they are most excellent and ready to go.

Many '85 Red Bordeaux are quite wonderful, too.