The 1986 Vintage

The 1986 vintage was marked by extreme and contrasting climatic conditions, leading to highly variable results depending on the wine region.

The start of the year was harsh, with a long, rigorous winter that lasted until the end of April. However, spring made a notable arrival in May, bringing welcome warmth that favored a rapid, beautiful, and homogeneous flowering, suggesting a generous harvest.

Summer, from June to the end of August, was torrid and very dry, particularly in Bordeaux where no rain fell for three months. This drought slowed the ripening of the grapes. In other regions like the Rhône Valley, isolated storms occurred, but the heat was crushing, with temperatures reaching 50∘C in Côte Rôtie.

It was autumn that saved the vintage in many appellations. The September rains allowed the grapes to return to normal development, restarting the maturation process.

The 1986 vintage in Bordeaux

In the Médoc, the 1986 wines are exceptional. They are characterized by a firm and dense structure, but also by vibrant fruit. Their elegant and magnificent tannins have allowed them to develop a remarkable balance, richness, and finesse. These wines, sometimes described as truly great (grandissimes), are models of longevity and can still be enjoyed today. In fact, some winemakers do not hesitate to compare them to the mythical 1961 vintage.

Elsewhere in Bordeaux, the Right Bank appellations, such as Saint-Émilion and Pomerol, also produced very good wines. Today, these wines are at their peak and can be drunk with pleasure, revealing an aromatic richness that is still present.

Château Mouton Rothschild 1986

100/100: “The palate is magnificently balanced with its characteristic firm tannic structure, a Mouton-Rothschild of framework and masculinity.”

Robert Parker

The 1986 wines in the Sauternes region were also a great year. The ideal climatic conditions—rain in September, morning mists, and autumnal sunshine—favored the development of Botrytis cinerea (noble rot) and the concentration of the berries. The wines produced are rich (fat), long on the palate, and of great aromatic beauty, with notes of candied fruit, rôti (roasted/botrytis notes), and, over time, citrus and exotic fruits. These great, age-worthy sweet wines are considered benchmarks, on par with the mythical 1959 and 1953 vintages.

The Burgundy region in 1986

The 1986 wines in Burgundy were marked by great heterogeneity in grape quality, particularly between different estates and appellations. The red and white wines also had different outcomes. Overall, Burgundy white wines, mainly made from Chardonnay, proved to be of superior quality. The climatic conditions favored the expression of this grape, giving rise to wines of great finesse and beautiful complexity.

Despite the heterogeneity, the 1986 vintage in Burgundy offers red wines of a very good general quality. These wines are distinguished by their solid structure and tannic richness, which gave them good aging potential.

Today, it is the time to savor the 1986 Burgundy red wines. The majority of them have reached their peak, offering a beautiful expression of their terroir. For the very best cuvées, additional aging potential still exists, allowing collectors to keep them for a few more years.

The Rhône wines in 1986

Contrary to previous winters, the year 1986 was marked by extremely low temperatures and a powerful Mistral wind in the Rhône Valley. These climatic conditions, so harsh for the olive and mimosa trees, raised fears of the worst for the vines. However, the resilience of the rootstocks limited the damage.

The red Rhône wines from the 1986 vintage turned out to be good for cellaring. Several bottles, particularly those from the most prestigious appellations, can still offer beautiful tasting experiences, with complex, evolved aromas that have developed over time.

Champagnes from the 1986 vintage

The quality of 1986 Champagne is due to a homogeneous and satisfactory ripeness of the three main grape varieties, with Chardonnay particularly distinguishing itself. The Champagnes made from this grape variety are very expressive and aromatic, and the blending successfully highlighted these qualities. Most of these wines, released from 1992 onwards, have reached their peak and should be drunk without further delay.

Our selection

Château Margaux 1986

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Petrus 1986

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Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 1986

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