Description

96 points John Gilman

The 1985 Dom Pérignon is still several years away from its peak of drinkability, and while it is certainly quite approachable at this stage in its evolution, this wine will continue to improve with further bottle age. The bouquet is deep, complex and still a tad adolescent, as it offers up scents of tart apples, pink grapefruit, gentle herbal tones, a touch of limepeel, stony minerality and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and still quite young, with a rock solid core of fruit, bright acids, fine focus and balance, tiny bubbles and superb length and grip on the racy finish. While some tasters around the table thought this wine was drinking beautifully, for my palate it remains still a bit bound up in its minerally adolescence and will offer up significantly more opulence and toasty charm with another five to ten years of bottle age. It should prove to be an absolutely classic vintage of Dom Pérignon. (5 2018)

95 points Burghound

At 30 years of age many 85s in fifth are now tiring but the same wines in magnum are often still singing beautifully and the 85 Dom is just one of those beauties with its elegant and highly complex nose that displays mature aromas of yeast, toast, baked apples, citrus, spice and soft floral nuances. The delicious and equally complex middle weight flavors are still supported by a firm but balanced mousse where the mouth feel is quite fine before culminating in a long, toasty and regal finale. This has arrived at its peak and should probably be drunk up over the next decade or so absent one having a preference for post-mature aromas and flavors. (10 2015)

95 points Wine Advocate

Drunk from a pristinely preserved original disgorgement, the 1985 Dom Pérignon is inviting and exuberant, bursting with aromas of apples, pears, buttered toast, orange oil, tarte tatin and smoke. On the palate, it s medium to full-bodied, ample and pillowy, with a generous core of fruit, ripe but racy acids and a refined mousse. (WK) (4 2020)

90 points Wine Spectator

Excellent finesse in this wine that is still fresh with lime and citrus, but it also hints at lovely hazelnut, nutmeg and coffee bean notes. A very long orange-peel-scented finish. A touch lighter than the 82. Drinkable now.–Dom Pérignon vertical. (10 1995)

Jancis Robinson

Obviously quite old from the deep gold and the developed, biscuity nose. I thought it was from the 1980s when it was served blind. But it is still quite tangy and tense, managing to combine both richness and acidity. Not voluptuous in any way. I wonder whether it will ever relax and really open out? 17.5 20 points (JR) (6 2013)

K&L Notes

The 1985 vintage was a classic one for Dom Pérignon, and it is just now becoming mature. The wine has great finesse, classic length, and bottle age richness and interest. (Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer) 94-96 points Neal Martin for the Wine Advocate: Greeny gold hue. An aromatic, almost herbaceous nose with greengage and honeysuckle – very complex. Palate is rich and fresh with notes of grass, apple and honey. This is a big, flamboyant champagne. (05 2002)