1986 Wine and Port Vintage
Vintage Summary and Recommendations: Welcome to Vintage Wine and Port's 1986 wine page. Read on for our summary of the 1986 vintage, our top recommendations and region reports. Scroll down to see all of our wines currently available. If you cannot find what you are looking for please call us on 01425 837177 or Contact Us. We would love to help you with your wine choice!
The 1986 vintage was largely good but stopped short of excellent. In France, Bordeaux, Sauternes, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Champagne and the Loire all performed well, while Alsace and the Rhône Valley struggled a little more. In wider Europe, both Piedmont and Tuscany had so-so years with few truly stand-out wines, but some good ones were still made. Port and Spain were largely average while Germany and Tokaj were both good. Any of these wines would make a fabulous 40 year old wine gift for an Anniversary or birthday.
Our Wine Expert currently recommends the following wines for this year:
This Year in History: Fun Fact: Halley’s Comet appeared in the night sky, as it also did back in 1682, 1758, 1835, and 1910. Halley’s Comet orbits the sun every 75-76 years, and will not be seen again until 2062.
Eurovision Winner: Belgium with the song "J'aime La Vie" by Sandra Kim
Top Grossing Movie: Top Gun
Bordeaux: 1986 was a great vintage for the wines produced in the northern part of Bordeaux (St Julien, Pauillac) where many of those wineries produced deep, concentrated wines that will mature over the next decade or two. What marks the 1986 vintage is tannin. The tannins originate from the skins of those well ripened grapes which were left on the vines for several weeks before harvest - in tastings the 1986 usually stands out because of this particular quality. The wines only reached their peak recently but will remain there for many years to come. Drinking well now, these wines would make a great 39 year old wine gift for a birthday or celebration and would grace the table of any anniversary event.
Italian: 1986 was a very good year for Italian wines. The wines produced that year are generally quite consistent and there are some great Barolos from Piedmont. The wines have reached full maturity but will last for a few more years.
Portugal: A good year that produced forward, fruit packed Single Quinta Vintage port wines that are at their best now and will remain so for many years, however there was no declaration of vintage in 1986. Tawny or Single Harvest Ports will offer a great alternative to Vintage Port.
Spain: The 1986 was a good vintage for Rioja and Ribera Del Duero, with the former producing some good but rather lean wines and the latter standing out for its power, structure and complexity.
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25 products found.
Burmester
40 Year Old 'TORDIZ' Tawny Port in Gift Tube
IWSC (2025) - Gold Award
*** Gold Medal at the 2025 International Wine Challenge ***
Bright brown colour, with greenish nuances. Presents a bouquet with intense aromas of dried fruits, delicate spices notes and a sweet touch of honey. In the taste it is full, unctuous and velvety. This wine overflows seduction and an enormous refinement. A feeling that is extended in the long and complex finish.
This 40-year-old wine owes its name, Tordiz, to the confluence of the Torto and Mendiz rivers. It is obtained from wines that have been carefully aged in small oak casks and later blended in a small upstanding oak vat dating from 1864. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 17 in Stock
Palmer Port
40 Year Old Tawny Port
Was £89.95
Special Offer £74.95
Exclusive to Vintage Wine and Port
Tasting Notes: The Palmer 40 Year tawny is a careful blend of many traditional grape varieties from selected vineyards in various areas of the Douro Demarcated Region, patiently aged to resemble the taste of a port that was aged for 40 years in old oak casks. The 40 Year old has a pronounced aroma intensity that is very rich with nuts and baked cherry. There is further complexity of nutmeg and cream. On the palate the wine is very balanced between acidity and sweetness that gives a luxurious mouthfeel. Lovely richness of fruitcake, fig, baked plum, caramel and toffee. There are also notes of plum, cherry, cooked strawberry. …
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Price: £74.95
Stock: 5 in Stock
Quevedo
40 Year Old Tawny Port in Gift Box
95 Points - Wine Enthusiast
The 40 year old Port combines the talent of 3 generations. João, Oscar Sr. and Cláudia combined their effort in the cellar to blend this balanced, intense and complex very old Tawny, pairing the concentration from Port wine aging in the Douro with the elegant style of Quevedo’s Tawny.
Produced using Hand-harvested, sustainable and dry farmed grapes, fermented in traditional Granite (vats) lagares. Aged and matured in seasoned chestnut casks and unfiltered.
Tasting notes
The colour is amber with green hints.
The aroma is a complex and intense expression with notes of citrus marmalade, dry fruits, nutmeg, marzipan and almond essence. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Quinta da Devesa
40 Year Old Tawny Port in Gift Box
75cl Bottle
94 Points - Wine Advocate
The Quinta da Devesa 40-Year-Old Tawny Port is a distinguished expression from the Douro Valley, reflecting the estate's dedication to traditional winemaking and sustainable viticulture. Crafted from a blend of indigenous grape varieties, including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, and Tinto Cão, this tawny port is aged in oak casks for an average of 40 years, resulting in a complex and refined profile.
In the glass, it exhibits a deep mahogany hue with amber reflections. The nose is rich and layered, offering aromas of dried fruits, honey, balsam, cloves, shaved ginger, fig, and marjoram. …
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Price: £89.95
Stock: 34 in Stock
Quinta da Devesa
40 Year Old White Port in Gift Box
50cl Bottle
WAS £89.95 Spacial Offer £74.95
92 Points- Wine Advocate
The Quinta da Devesa 40-Year-Old White Port is a rare and distinguished expression from the Douro Valley, showcasing the estate's dedication to traditional winemaking and sustainable viticulture. Crafted from a blend of indigenous white grape varieties, including Côdega de Larinho, Rabigato, and Malvasia Fina, this port is aged in oak casks for an average of 40 years, resulting in a complex and refined profile.
In the glass, it exhibits a golden white colour with slightly greenish hues. The nose is rich and layered, offering aromas of orange, vanilla, wood, nut, and honey. On the palate, it is full and fresh, with notes of dried fruit, caramel, and spices, culminating in a long, sweet, and vanilla finish. …
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Price: £74.95
Stock: 12 in Stock
Toro Albalá, 1986
DON PX
Magunm Bottle 1.5L
Don PX 1986 (Magnum) from Bodegas Toro Albalá is a monumental example of aged Pedro Ximénez, drawn from a single harvest and matured for decades in American oak casks. Made in Montilla-Moriles, Spain’s historic heartland for PX, this wine represents the estate’s commitment to time-honoured methods—sun-drying the grapes before long, oxidative ageing. Bottled in magnum format, it offers exceptional longevity, concentration, and a slow evolution that enhances both aromatic depth and palate complexity.
The appearance is striking: near-black with a dense, molasses-like texture that clings to the glass. …
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Price: £169.00
Stock: 12 in Stock
Messias
40 Year Old White Port in Gift Tube
50cl Bottle
The Messias 40 Year Old White Port showcases a remarkable light amber colour with hints of mahogany. The nose unfolds with layers of complexity, offering rich aromas of caramelized nuts, and apricot, interwoven with delicate notes of vanilla bean and aged honey. On the palate, it’s an indulgent experience, with flavours of rich butterscotch, and toasted almonds. The wine’s age is evident in its silky texture and extraordinary depth, while a vibrant acidity provides balance and freshness. The finish is long and opulent, with a lingering sweetness and a touch of spice that leaves a memorable, luxurious impression. …
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Price: £89.95
Stock: 7 in Stock
Quinta Das Carvalhas
40 Year Old Tawny Port in Gift Tube
The Quinta das Carvalhas 40 Year Old Tawny Port is not just a wine; it’s an experience. Whether you're gifting it to someone special or indulging in it yourself, this wine promises to deliver a memorable and luxurious tasting experience that reflects the very best of what the Douro Valley has to offer.
Tasting notes
Deep amber colour with a golden rim. A a luxurious blend of complex aromas, including hints of honey, nutmeg, vanilla, and subtle oak, all of which are indicative of its lengthy aging process. A 40 Year Old Tawny that boasts intense flavours of dried fruits like figs and apricots, alongside notes of toasted almonds, caramel, and rich spices. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 50 in Stock
Chateau Climens, 1986
Barsac, 1st Growth
Sweet White Wine
1986 Château Climens is a rare and exquisitely preserved Barsac, showcasing the estate’s hallmark purity, finesse and near-magical ability to age. Now approaching four decades in bottle, it has developed a glorious golden-amber hue that shimmers with depth and concentration—classic of long-matured Sémillon from this iconic Premier Cru.
The nose is extraordinarily complex and beautifully evolved. Layers of candied citrus peel, apricot tart and quince jelly merge with notes of honeycomb, saffron, toasted almond and crème brûlée. Subtle hints of chamomile, polished wood and dried pineapple bring an exotic lift, reflecting the wine’s slow, graceful maturation. …
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Price: £139.00
Stock: 10 in Stock
Chateau Leoville Barton, 1986
St Julien 2eme Cru Classe
The 1986 Château Léoville Barton is a powerful, classically structured Saint-Julien from one of the most robust and long-lived vintages of the 1980s. The wine opens with an intense bouquet of blackcurrant, cedar, graphite and cigar box, underscored by hints of dried flowers, leather and warm earth. It is immediately recognisable as a firmly built, traditional Left Bank claret of serious pedigree.
On the palate, the 1986 is deep and authoritative, with dense layers of cassis, black cherry and plum wrapped in still-present, muscular tannins. Notes of tobacco, iron, pencil shavings and savoury herbs add complexity, giving the wine a distinctly Pauillac-leaning profile despite its Saint-Julien origins. …
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Price: £195.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Chateau Meyney, 1986
St Estephe, Cru Grand Bourgeois Exceptional
Half Bottle
Château Meyney, located in the Saint-Estèphe appellation of Bordeaux, has a history dating back to the 17th century. The 1986 vintage, now approaching four decades of maturity, offers a unique opportunity to experience the evolution of this esteemed estate's offerings.
Tasting Profile
Over the years, the 1986 Château Meyney has developed a nuanced profile. Tasting notes from 2023 describe the wine as having very mature fruit, soft tannins, a lighter body, and a smooth finish. While the fruit has faded, it remains a pleasant old Bordeaux. Another review highlights aromas reminiscent of an old humidor, leather, prunes, and cedar, suggesting the wine is probably just past its peak. …
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Price: £62.95
Stock: 17 in Stock
Chateau Musar, 1986
Bekaar Valley, Gaston Hochar
This rare 1986 Musar is a blend of Cinsault, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Carignan from this well-known and highly regarded Lebanese winery.
Chateau Musar is often referred to as the Lafite of the Lebanon. Wine maker Gaston Hochar defied the odds producing a string of great wines during the Lebanon War. Musar has assumed legendary status. Complex, long-lived and endlessly varied, in some vintages it seems more like a Burgundy, in others a Bordeaux, in still others a Hermitage. But it is always brilliantly, uniquely, Lebanese. Ages magnificently but good vintages are usually best at 10-20 years old. …
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Price: £245.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Rieussec, 1986
Sauternes
1986 Château Rieussec is a beautifully evolved Sauternes from one of the appellation’s most respected Premier Cru estates. Nearly four decades on, it has reached a point of extraordinary harmony, displaying a deep amber-gold colour that reflects both concentration and graceful ageing.
The bouquet is opulent and layered, opening with aromas of marmalade, dried apricot, quince paste and honeyed pineapple. Beneath the fruit lie richer notes of crème caramel, toasted hazelnut, saffron and sweet spice, along with a subtle smokiness that comes from long bottle maturation. It’s a nose that continues to unfold with air, offering new nuances at every turn. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 6 in Stock
Chateau Trotte Vielle, 1986
St Emilion Premiere Grand cru Classe
The Château Trotte Vieille 1986 is a wine from the Saint-Émilion appellation in Bordeaux, France. This estate is classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé (B) and is known for producing elegant and age-worthy wines that reflect its historic terroir. The 1986 vintage was more celebrated on the Left Bank but still yielded intriguing wines on the Right Bank, particularly for producers with meticulous vineyard management.
Wine Overview
Château Trotte Vieille is known for its classic Bordeaux blends, and the 1986 vintage is likely composed of:
Cabernet Franc (dominant): Contributing structure, floral aromatics, and herbal notes. …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: 4 in Stock
Ghemme, 1986
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo
The wines Sizzano must be made from grapes coming from the following varieties: Nebbiolo (Span): 50-70%; Vespolina and Uva Rara (Bonarda Novarese) alone or in combination 30-50%. Colour: ruby red with garnet; Bouquet: vinous, typical, with hints of violet, fine and pleasant; Flavour: dry, full-bodied and harmonious with a slightly bitter aftertaste; Aging: "Sizzano": at least 22 months of which at least 18 in wood; "Sizzano Reserve": at least 34 months of which at least 24 in wood.
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Price: £79.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Graham's Port
40 Year Old Tawny Port New Edition
Decanter (DWWA 2025) Gold
Graham's 40 Year Old Tawny. A truly remarkable wine cared for across generations. A great testament to the arts of blending, cooperage, and ageing. Aged for an average of 40 years in seasoned oak casks, our 40 Year Old Tawny is a testament to time and patience. Composed of wines put aside generations ago, this is an incredible wine with an amazingly long finish, indicating both its age and immense quality.
Graham's 40 Years Old Tawny is made from wines of the very highest quality which, following careful selection, are matured in seasoned oak casks of until their peak of maturity is reached. …
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Price: £199.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Porta dos Cavaleiros, 1986
Porta dos Cavaleiros, Dao
Porta dos Cavaleiros, 1986
Dão, Portugal
A mature Dão with that classic, old-school Portuguese elegance: more savoury than fruity now, with gentle tertiary character in the lead.
Expect aromas of dried cherry and plum skin, leather and cedar, plus notes of tobacco leaf, dried herbs and a touch of earthy mushroom.
On the palate it should be medium-bodied and nuanced rather than powerful, with softened tannins, fresh acidity (a Dão hallmark),
and flavours moving towards dried red fruits, tea leaf, spice, and a lightly dusty/mineral finish. With a 1986 like this, bottle variation is very possible,
so a careful opening and a little air can make all the difference. …
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 139 in Stock
Quinta do Poco do Lobo, 1986
Quinta Poço do Lobo - Cabernet, Bairrada
Quinta Poço do Lobo – Cabernet Sauvignon
Bairrada, Portugal
A distinctive Portuguese expression of Cabernet Sauvignon from Bairrada, showing a more restrained, Atlantic-influenced style than New World examples.
Aromas lean towards blackcurrant, dark cherry and plum, layered with cedar, graphite, dried herbs and a subtle earthy note.
The palate is structured and linear, with firm but well-integrated tannins and fresh acidity typical of the region. Dark fruit flavours are balanced by savoury notes of tobacco, spice and gentle oak, leading to a long, dry and composed finish.
Serving & Pairing
Serve at 16–18°C. …
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Price: £79.00
Stock: 111 in Stock
Sandeman
40 Year Old Tawny Port
***95 Points- GOLD Winner- IWC 2024***
***95 Points- Gold - Decanter 2024***
Comes in Original Gift Tube
The Sandeman 40 Year Old Tawny Port is a luxurious and complex aged tawny port, known for its exceptional depth and sophistication. This port is the result of meticulous blending and extended aging in oak casks, which imparts rich flavours and a smooth, refined character.
Tasting Notes
Deep amber with golden and greenish highlights, indicating a long aging process. Its aroma is intricate, with notes of dried fruits, toasted nuts, caramel, honey, spice, vanilla, and oak. The palate is remarkably smooth, rich, and full-bodied, with a harmonious blend of dried fruits, toffee, caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, and citrus. …
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Price: £159.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Maynard's Port, 1986
40 Year Old Tawny Port
Multiple Award Winner
Please note that due to weight restrictions, we cannot dispatch this particular item to the United States, Australia or New Zealand. Apologies for any inconvenience this causes.
*** IWC Gold award Winner ***
*** 90 Points Decanter ***
*** 93 Points Wine Spectator ***
Rated as outstanding by Wine Spectator and receiving the International Wine Challenge gold award, this amazing 40-Year Tawny Port is now available again in the UK through VWP!
Named after the first established English Port wine shipper in Oporto, Walter Maynard, this aged Port has been stored in a barrel for over 40 years until it was bottled for us. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Kopke
40 Year Old Tawny Port in Gift Box
Decanter Silver Award ( DWWA 2025 )
This Kopke 40 Year Old Tawny Port is a beautifully balanced and richly complex wine, perfect for savouring on special occasions. Its intricate layers of flavours and aromas make it a delightful experience for the palate, showcasing the masterful aging process and the quality of the port.
Tasting Notes
Deep amber with mahogany highlights, indicating aging. Its aromas include dried fruits, caramel, toffee, butterscotch, roasted nuts, vanilla, and spices. The palate is smooth and luscious, with a pronounced sweetness and well-integrated acidity. The texture is velvety and full-bodied, offering a luxurious mouthfeel. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Cabernet, 1986
F.lli Pighin
1986 Cabernet – F.lli Pighin (Friuli, Italy)
A fully mature, old-school Friulian Cabernet (likely Sauvignon with a touch of Franc) showing savoury poise over power. Deep garnet shading to tawny at the rim; aromas of dried blackcurrant and cherry, cedar and pencil shavings, bay leaf, tobacco and leather, with hints of green peppercorn, cacao and dried herbs. Mid-weight and silken on the palate: lively, cool-climate acidity carries cassis, sour-cherry and chinotto notes; tannins are fine and resolved. The finish is long and tapering with cedar spice, graphite and a touch of cocoa.
Producer note: Fratelli Pighin farms gravelly, …
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Price: £69.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Chateau Cos d'Estournel, 1986
St Estephe, 2nd Growth Classification
95 Points - Robert Parker
Reviews: "The 1986 is a highly extracted wine, with a black/ruby color and plenty of toasty, smoky notes in its bouquet that suggest ripe plums and licorice. Evolving at a glacial pace, it exhibits massive, huge, ripe, extremely concentrated flavors with impressive depth and richness. It possesses power, weight, and tannin." Parker, Wine Advocate 1994
"his bottle is similar to the one last year: dense, masculine, wet sand, austere on the nose, as if the wine is slamming a door in your face, but after a time there is a lovely touch of cardamom that develops. The palate suggests that it is worth cellaring, …
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Price: £225.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Dow's
40 Year Old Tawny Port ***92 Points- Wine Enthusiast***
Dows 40 Year Old Tawny Port A beautiful translucent amber-golden colour and an almost transparent rim with exquisite fragrances of delicate dry fruit coupled with a hint of fine marmalade. A luxuriously silk-like palate with polished elegance and notes of fruit preserves. The complex, long and slightly dry finish reveals nutty praline notes ending with a tea leaf flourish
Dow’s Port is one of the most famous names in the Port trade and today is owned and managed by the fifth generation of the Symington family. The family, whose experience dates back over 100 years, supervises all the vineyards, winemaking and ageing of this wine. …
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Price: £139.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Gigondas, 1986
Domaine du Cayron, Michel Faraud
This rare 1986 Gigondas from Domaine du Cayron, crafted by Michel Faraud, is a fine example of old-vine Southern Rhône winemaking. Domaine du Cayron, a historic family estate, is renowned for producing traditional, age-worthy Gigondas wines from Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre grown on limestone and clay soils at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail.
Tasting Notes
Brick-garnet in colour with a tawny rim, this 1986 Gigondas opens with evolved aromas of dried red berries, leather, garrigue herbs, and cedar, alongside earthy notes of truffle and tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied, showing resolved tannins and flavours of dried cherry, spice, and savoury game. …
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Price: £49.95
Stock: Out of Stock