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 39 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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41 products found.
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: 4 in Stock
Gigondas, 1986
Domaine les Goubert
This traditional 1986 Gigondas from Domaine les Goubert showcases the estate’s long-standing reputation for producing robust yet elegant Southern Rhône reds. Situated at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail, Domaine les Goubert cultivates Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault on stony limestone-clay soils, crafting wines of both power and authenticity.
Tasting Notes
Brick-red with a fading rim, this mature Gigondas reveals complex aromas of dried cherry, plum, and blackcurrant, mingling with leather, spice, and earthy garrigue herbs. On the palate, the tannins have softened with age, giving way to savoury notes of tobacco, truffle, and dried fig. …
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Price: £39.95
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.
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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.
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Price: £79.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Pinot Nero, 1986
Afra e Toba - Scarpa
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.
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Price: £59.00
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, …
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 150 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: 113 in Stock
Taittinger, 1986
Vintage Champagne Hans Harthung Original Taittinger presentation case 4x Taittinger glasses in case
Amongst Champagne's luxury cuveés and super-premium labels, Taittinger's wines live on one extreme end of the style spectrum.
While many top Champagnes can be quite difficult to approach in their youth, with laser-like focus and delineation, even austerity, Taittinger instead tends to be immediately open and welcoming. These are beautiful, delicious Champagnes, with bubbles lazily winding their way up to the surface, inviting you to take another sip.
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Price: £495.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Taittinger, 1986
Vintage Champagne Hans Harthung in Presentation Box
Amongst Champagne's luxury cuveés and super-premium labels, Taittinger's wines live on one extreme end of the style spectrum.
While many top Champagnes can be quite difficult to approach in their youth, with laser-like focus and delineation, even austerity, Taittinger instead tends to be immediately open and welcoming. These are beautiful, delicious Champagnes, with bubbles lazily winding their way up to the surface, inviting you to take another sip.
The Taittinger Collection Series bottles are released only in great vintages, from a selection of the year's finest cuvées. The wines are made from Chardonnay mainly from the Grands Crus of the Côte des Blancs, and Pinot Noir from Montagne de Reims and Vallée de la Marne vineyards. …
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Price: £365.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Taittinger, 1986
Vintage Champagne Hans Harthung
Amongst Champagne's luxury cuveés and super-premium labels, Taittinger's wines live on one extreme end of the style spectrum.
While many top Champagnes can be quite difficult to approach in their youth, with laser-like focus and delineation, even austerity, Taittinger instead tends to be immediately open and welcoming. These are beautiful, delicious Champagnes, with bubbles lazily winding their way up to the surface, inviting you to take another sip.
The Taittinger Collection Series bottles are released only in great vintages, from a selection of the year's finest cuvées. The wines are made from Chardonnay mainly from the Grands Crus of the Côte des Blancs, and Pinot Noir from Montagne de Reims and Vallée de la Marne vineyards. …
more >>>
Price: £355.00
Stock: 1 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.
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Price: £59.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Cos d'Estournel, 1986
St Estephe, 2nd Growth Classification
Was £225 Black Friday Clearance | Damaged Label £150
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: £160.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Chateau Giscours, 1986
Margaux, 3rd Growth Classification
Dark core light bricking at edges. The 1986 Giscours still has a complex bouquet with clearly black currants. In the taste black currant juice, a bit leather, bitter, sweet and vanilla with some earthiness. Soft and good, but a bit drying tannin. Nice aftertaste, slightly bitter. Medium + Finish.
Château Giscours, situated in the Margaux appellation of Bordeaux, France, is renowned for its prestigious history and exceptional red wines. Dating back to the 14th century, the estate's vineyards span approximately 80 hectares, primarily planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot grapes. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 1986
Les Arnevels
This 1986 Arnevels Châteauneuf-du-Pape shows a brick-garnet colour with evolved edges. The bouquet is complex and mature, with dried cherry, prune, leather, tobacco, and hints of warm garrigue herbs. On the palate it is medium-bodied, with softened tannins and savoury flavours of stewed plum, spice, and earthy forest floor. The finish is smooth, mellow, and reflective of fully mature Southern Rhône.
Smaller houses such as Arnevels are rarely seen today, making this a curiosity from the 1980s Châteauneuf landscape. While not a “grand” name, it offers both drinking pleasure and a slice of history. …
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Price: £89.95
Stock: Out of Stock
Fonseca Port, 1986
Panascal- Vintage Port
In undeclared vintages Fonseca bottle Panascal, provided the quality of the fruit is sufficient. This has a good depth of colour, with a moderate red-tawny hue. The nose has exotic notes of musky scent and spiced woods, together with some chocolate edged fruit. The palate has an impressive texture and sweetness immediately apparent on entry. Good fruit and a nice backbone of soft tannins. Elegant, with a touch of complexity, with balance, very much in the house style.
Learn more about Fonseca
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Price: £149.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Taylor Fladgate, 1986
Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port
The 1986 Taylor Quinta de Vargellas is a vintage port from the renowned Taylor's wine house. While 1986 was not declared a vintage year for Taylor's overall, the Quinta de Vargellas estate often produces exceptional single-quinta vintage ports even in years that are not widely declared. Produced from grapes exclusively from the Quinta de Vargellas estate, these wines showcase the unique terroir of the vineyard.
Tasting notes Medium intense colour with slight orange tinge at the rim. Nose of wood, anise, deep berry notes, faint clove and lots more. Rich mouthfeel w/slight woodiness, rich dried fruits of cherry, blackberry, Plum and dates. …
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Price: £149.00
Stock: Out of Stock