96 points Decanter
A troublesome vintage for many shippers, but Fonseca 1985 never fails to impress: tight-knit, dense and minty with a core of concentration and pure berry fruit. Succulent, wonderfully fresh and vibrant at 30 years old. Peacock’s tail of a finish. A real ‘wow’ of a wine that promises to last a lifetime. (RM) (11/2015)
93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 1985 Fonseca is still youthful in appearance with hardly any ageing on the rim. The nose offers kirsch, sloes and Christmas cake. With time, there are subtle notes of dried fig and dates beginning to emerge and add to the complexity. The palate is medium-bodied and beautifully balanced on the supple, rounded entry. It is not quite as complex as the aromatics, with dates and dried fig, the finish mellow and refined. It is very elegant for a Fonseca, weighty but supremely well focused. This is a fabulous Fonseca that is ready to drink now, but will age for another 30 or 40 years. (NM) (2/2013)
93 points Wine Spectator
Very dark and youthful ruby-purple. Very intense aromas of blackberry and black licorice. Full-bodied and lightly sweet, with chewy tannins and a rich licorice, blackberry undertone. Still tight. Drinkable now, but it needs a few more years. (JS, Web-2008)
Jancis Robinson
Still dark crimson. Just a little spirity on the nose but wonderfully opulent and sweet on the palate with the tannins still making their presence felt. Pretty dry on the end now. I would choose the Fonseca Guimaraens 1998 as offering better value for current drinking. Amazingly, this still needs a bit of time, I think! 17.5/20 points. Drink 2020 - 2040. (JR) (12/2015)
