The Taurasi Reserva 1985, Mastroberardino had been properly stored
since the release and had a good fill and sound cork. This was my last
bottle. It is still holding well, but likely will not benefit by much
more age.

The color is still quite dark with a bit of age showing around the
rim. The wine has a very large bouquet with some spiced dark cherry
fruit and some toast or smoke that follows through in the taste. There
is plenty of acid, now smoothed. The wine is quite big, about as big
as many Barolos, but with the warm character of the South. However
this is not overblown or port-like. This is a wine that can stand up
to fairly strong Mediterranean food. I had it with grilled chicken
breast in a tapenade and couscus mixed with fire roasted vegetables.
The tapenade did not cause problems despite the many chopped Kalamata
olives and a moderate amount of sun -dried tomatoes. Likely this wine
would match well with much game.