1986 Wine and Port Vintage
Vintage Summary and Recommendations:
1986 Wine – 40 Year Old Anniversary Wines
Welcome to Vintage Wine & Port’s 1986 wine collection. Now entering peak maturity, the best wines from this vintage offer beautifully developed flavours, softened tannins and the complexity that comes with four decades of careful ageing. These characteristics make 1986 wines an excellent choice for a 40th anniversary or milestone birthday gift.
In key regions such as Portugal and Bordeaux, well-made wines from 1986 have matured gracefully, with Port in particular offering rich, ready-to-drink styles and Bordeaux showing classic structure and balance. Our selection focuses on bottles from trusted producers and well-stored cellars, ensuring each wine is drinking well today.
Our Recommended Wines from 1986
Scroll down to explore our full selection. If you would like personal advice, please call us on 01425 837177 or contact us — we would be delighted to help you choose the perfect bottle.
Top Recommendation: Kopke 1986 Colheita Port
A beautifully mature single harvest tawny Port offering exceptional balance, depth and drinkability. Fully aged and ready to enjoy now, making it the most reliable choice for a 40th anniversary gift.
Best Value: Rivesaltes 1986 L’Archiviste
A wonderfully mature fortified wine offering outstanding value, with rich flavours of dried fruits, caramel and spice developed through long ageing.
Premium White Port: Quevedo 1986 White Port
A rare and distinctive aged white Port with rich, honeyed complexity and remarkable depth. A unique and memorable gift option.
Classic Portuguese Red: Porta dos Cavaleiros 1986 (Dão)
A mature Portuguese red with soft tannins and developed character, offering a different expression of the vintage while remaining ready to drink.
Fine & Rare Bordeaux: Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 1986
A refined Pauillac Second Growth Bordeaux showing elegant structure, cedar and dark fruit notes
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 strong vintage in the northern Médoc, particularly in Pauillac and St Julien, producing structured wines that have now reached full maturity and are drinking well.
Read full Bordeaux vintage report
1986 was a great vintage for the wines produced in the northern part of Bordeaux (St Julien, Pauillac), where many estates produced deep, concentrated wines built for long ageing. What defines the 1986 vintage is its firm tannic structure, derived from well-ripened grapes that remained on the vine for extended periods before harvest. Now fully mature, these wines have softened and developed complexity, while retaining their classic character. Drinking well today, they make an excellent 40 year old wine gift for a birthday, anniversary or special celebration.
Italian: 1986 was a very good year for Italian wines, with consistent quality across key regions and some particularly fine Barolos from Piedmont. Now fully mature, these wines show developed character, softened tannins and layered complexity, and are drinking well today while still capable of ageing further.
Read full Italian vintage report
The wines produced in 1986 are generally well-balanced and have evolved gracefully over time. In Piedmont, Barolo from this vintage is especially noteworthy, offering structure, depth and classic ageing potential, with flavours of dried cherry, leather, spice and earthy notes emerging with age. Other regions also produced reliable wines, though Piedmont remains the standout. Now at full maturity, these wines display harmony and complexity, making them ideal for drinking today while still holding for a few more years.
Portugal: 1986 was a good year in Portugal, producing forward, fruit-driven Single Quinta Vintage Ports that have now reached full maturity and are drinking well. With no general declaration, wines from this year are relatively scarce, adding to their appeal as distinctive and increasingly rare bottles.
Read full Portugal vintage report
The Ports from 1986 are typically approachable and well-balanced, showing developed flavours of dried fruit, caramel and spice. Now at their peak, these wines offer immediate enjoyment without the need for further ageing. Tawny and Single Harvest (Colheita) Ports are particularly strong choices from this vintage, benefiting from extended cask ageing which enhances their smoothness, complexity and consistency. These styles offer a reliable and rewarding alternative to Vintage Port, making them ideal for a 40th birthday or anniversary gift.
36 products found.
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: 131 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: 10 in 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
Chateau des Maures, 1986
Grand vin de Bordeaux
Appearance
Medium garnet with a slightly tawny rim — showing its age but still holding beautiful colour after nearly four decades.
Nose
Evolved and savoury with red and black fruits toned down by time. Expect notes of dried plum, undergrowth, cedar, leather and subtle earthiness, complemented by hints of tobacco and spice typical of aged Merlot‑based blends.
Palate
Medium‑bodied with smooth, integrated tannins and a gracious frame. Flavours of dried cherry and plum mingle with forest floor, graphite and savoury tobacco; acidity remains balanced and keeps the wine lively. …
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Price: £49.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Chateau Feytit-Lagrave, 1986
Pomerol
Château Feytit‑Lagrave is a classic Pomerol estate renowned for producing wines that balance approachable fruit richness with structural finesse. Nestled in the heart of the Right Bank, the estate consistently crafts Merlot-dominated blends with subtle complexity, capable of graceful aging.
Appearance
Medium garnet with tawny edges, showing age gracefully while retaining a rich, inviting colour.
Nose
Evolved and elegant, featuring dried plum, black cherry, and cassis complemented by cedar, leather, and subtle earthy notes. Hints of tobacco and forest floor emerge with gentle aeration. …
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Price: £59.00
Stock: Out of 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: Out of Stock
Chateau Suduiraut, 1986
Premier Cru Classé, Sauternes Sweet white wine
1986 Château Suduiraut hails from one of Sauternes' most renowned Premier Cru Classé estates, nestled next to Château d’Yquem in the commune of Preignac. Known for its meticulous vineyard management and traditional vinification techniques, Suduiraut crafts wines dominated by Sémillon, blended with a touch of Sauvignon Blanc. The château’s wines typically display opulence, structure, and longevity—often showing vivid botrytis character thanks to the ideal misty autumn conditions near the Garonne and Ciron rivers. By the mid-1980s, Suduiraut was producing wines with a more classic, less opulent style than later decades, reflecting both the vintage and the winemaking direction at the time. …
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Price: £99.00
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
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: Out of Stock