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.
Buy with Confidence in the UK
Free Delivery
£100+ orders
Gift Ready
notes & message
6-Month
Guarantee
Award-Winning
IWC & Decanter
44 products found.
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.
more >>>
Price: £79.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Lacrima di Cristi del Vesuvio, 1986
Mastroberardino
Very forward nose of leather and cherries, liquorice wild strawberries, ripe plums and pencil .The palate is very nice balance of sweet fruit and acidity.
more >>>
Price: £69.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Merlot, 1986
F.lli Pighin
Very forward nose of leather and cherries, liquorice wild strawberries, ripe plums and pencil .The palate is very nice balance of sweet fruit and acidity.
more >>>
Price: £79.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Nebbiolo, 1986
Prandi
The Nebbiolo has a lovely earthy bouquet. The nose has cherries, dark cherries, tar and slight dried rose notes. Complex and layered. Nice acidity. Medium tannins still present. Cherries on the palate too. Nice finish. Great food wine. Nebbiolo is a fickle grape famed as much for its pale appearance as for its tannic character and produces some of the most perfumed and richly flavored wines. Though generally only medium-bodied, the wines possess rose and anise scented aromatics and deep flavors of cherry, orange peel and subtle green herb tones.
more >>>
Price: £79.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Nobile di Montepulciano, 1986
Giuseppe Fanetti - Riserva
Nobile di Montepulciano is a red wine with a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita status produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montepulciano, Italy. The wine is made primarily from the Sangiovese grape varietal (known locally as Prugnolo gentile) (minimum 70%), blended with Canaiolo Nero (10%–20%) and small amounts of other local varieties such as Mammolo. The wine is aged for 2 years (at least 1 year in oak barrels); three years if it is a riserva.
more >>>
Price: £89.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Porta dos Cavaleiros, 1986
Porta dos Cavaleiros, Dao
Caves S. Joao, established in 1920, became a dominant force in Portuguese wine making in the early 20th century with their houses Porta dos Cavaleiros in Dao and Frei Joao in Bairrada. Given the shifting trends in consumer preferences, Bairrada and Dao fell to obscurity in the 1990s when critical influence drove the demand for bigger, extracted, warmer climate wines. As in all things, however, what comes around goes around! Sure enough, 20 years later savvy consumers and food-conscious sommeliers are looking for finesse and freshness and heading back to Bairrada and Dao. Wines that when young had a vegetal character, …
more >>>
Price: £69.00
Stock: 147 in Stock
Quinta do Poco do Lobo, 1986
Quinta Poço do Lobo - Cabernet, Bairrada
Caves S. Joao, established in 1920, became a dominant force in Portuguese wine making in the early 20th century with their houses Porta dos Cavaleiros in Dao and Frei Joao in Bairrada. Given the shifting trends in consumer preferences, Bairrada and Dao fell to obscurity in the 1990s when critical influence drove the demand for bigger, extracted, warmer climate wines. As in all things, however, what comes around goes around! Sure enough, 20 years later savvy consumers and food-conscious sommeliers are looking for finesse and freshness and heading back to Bairrada and Dao. Wines that when young had a vegetal character, …
more >>>
Price: £79.00
Stock: 112 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. …
more >>>
Price: £149.00
Stock: 7 in Stock
Vino da Tavola, 1986
Borgo F.lli Peuma
Very forward nose of leather and cherries, liquorice wild strawberries, ripe plums and pencil .The palate is very nice balance of sweet fruit and acidity.
more >>>
Price: £59.00
Stock: 1 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. …
more >>>
Price: £119.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Chateau d'Issan, 1986
Cantenac Margaux 3rd Growth Classification
The 1986 Château d'Issan is a beautifully aged Third Growth Margaux, reflecting the structure and depth of this highly regarded vintage. Known for its firm tannins and longevity, the 1986 Bordeaux wines have aged exceptionally well, and Château d'Issan is no exception. Now approaching 40 years, this vintage offers a refined and complex expression of Margaux terroir.
With a deep garnet color and subtle bricking at the rim, this wine reveals a developed bouquet of dark cherry, tobacco, orange zest, and earthy limestone. On the palate, it remains medium-bodied and balanced, with softened tannins and lingering notes of red berries, earth, and floral hints. …
more >>>
Price: £99.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Chateau Hanteillan, 1986
Haut-Medoc
The 1989 Chateau Hanteilan is a claret from a stellar year in Bordeaux filled with soft plummy flavours and hints of cherry alongside notes of cedar and liquorice. A well made Haut Medoc at its best now.
Serving suggestions:
This bottle will need decanting in order to remove sediment and aerate the wine to release its aromas. Serve at room temperature with sirloin steak, roast beef, braised or grilled lamb. It is perfect with soft cheeses such as brie or soft goat cheese as well as hard cheeses such as cheddar, parmigiano reggiano, pecorino or aged manchego.
more >>>
Price: £59.95
Stock: Out of Stock
Chianti, 1986
Melini
Chianti, situated in Tuscany in central Italy, is home to probably the best-known and most iconic of all Italian wines. Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are primarily made with Sangiovese grape whereas the Vernaccia grape is the basis of the white Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
more >>>
Price: £89.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Chianti, 1986
Rocca delle Macie
Chianti, situated in Tuscany in central Italy, is home to probably the best-known and most iconic of all Italian wines. Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are primarily made with Sangiovese grape whereas the Vernaccia grape is the basis of the white Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
more >>>
Price: £79.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Chianti, 1986
Rocca delle Macie- Riserva
Chianti, situated in Tuscany in central Italy, is home to probably the best-known and most iconic of all Italian wines. Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are primarily made with Sangiovese grape whereas the Vernaccia grape is the basis of the white Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
more >>>
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. …
more >>>
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. …
more >>>
Price: £49.95
Stock: Out of Stock
Nobile di Montepulciano, 1986
Tenuta Trerose
Nobile di Montepulciano is a red wine with a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita status produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montepulciano, Italy. The wine is made primarily from the Sangiovese grape varietal (known locally as Prugnolo gentile) (minimum 70%), blended with Canaiolo Nero (10%–20%) and small amounts of other local varieties such as Mammolo. The wine is aged for 2 years (at least 1 year in oak barrels); three years if it is a riserva.
more >>>
Price: £69.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Nobile di Montepulciano, 1986
Sanguinetti - Riserva
Nobile di Montepulciano is a red wine with a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita status produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montepulciano, Italy. The wine is made primarily from the Sangiovese grape varietal (known locally as Prugnolo gentile) (minimum 70%), blended with Canaiolo Nero (10%–20%) and small amounts of other local varieties such as Mammolo. The wine is aged for 2 years (at least 1 year in oak barrels); three years if it is a riserva.
more >>>
Price: £79.00
Stock: Out of Stock