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.