WARRE

With much better depth than the weaklings in this flight, this wine has lots of black among the red. Savoury, earthy, touches of coal and charcoal, with deep spicy fruits: impressive, well-constructed aromas. Rich-textured, lush, almost salty flavours, with big piles of fruit heaped up one upon the other and a real warm brandied base beneath. Big, welcoming and extravagant, the kind of style I tend to think of a Graham's but this wouldn't dishonour any leading shipper, and in the bordello of '85 it is very definitely a good deed. Lovely, exuberant, extravagant Vintage Port for the mid-term Rating: 18 Andrew Jefford (Oct 2007)

Very very dark. Sweet, spicy, liquorice nose. Very broad start to the palate and then dried fruits on the finish. Lots of firm tannins still. Still relatively embryonic. Heat on the finish. Lovely spice on the finish. Not the most stereotypically feminine Warre style of wine. Powerful finish. Almost brawny with some wild fruit and flower flavours on the nose. Still chewy. Drinking range: 2002 - 2020 Rating: 18.5 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Sept 2006)

Most recently, in very good vintage company, fairly intense; 'classic' nose again; lovely flavour and texture. Very dry, fragrant finish. With Graham, my top '85. ****(*) Now-2025Michael Broadbent MW (Mar 2005)