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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52 products found.
Chianti, 1986
Onda Borghese
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.
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 1 in 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.
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Price: £89.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Dolcetto, 1986
Fratelli Savigliano
A native black grape variety of Northern Italy grown almost exclusively in the provinces of Cuneo and Alessandria in Piedmont. It is relatively easy to cultivate, although it is susceptible to fungal diseases. It ripens before Barbera and Nebbiolo and is often grown in high north-facing sites which would be unsuitable for Nebbiolo. The finest Dolcetto wines come from grapes grown on soils rich with white marls, especially those found on the right bank of the River Tauro. The wines generally are low in tannins and acidity and are usually fruity and fragrant, often with hints of almonds.
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Gattinara, 1986
Le Collina Monsecco
Gattinara is a red Italian wine produced from Nebbiolo grapes grown within the boundaries of the commune of Gattinara which is located in the hills in the north of the province of Vercelli, northwest of Novara in the Piedmont region. The wine is made from a minimum of 90% Nebbiolo grapes and is renowned for its longevity. Notes: a meaty, chunky wine with a subtle, clean nose. Hints of tar and bark, with undertones of cherries and rose petals. Light tannins.
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 1 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
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: 2 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
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.
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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.
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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: 1 in 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.
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 1 in 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.
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Price: £79.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Pocas, 1986
Colhieta Port
Pocas 1986 Colheita Port
The 1986 Colheita from Pocas is a beautifully matured single-harvest Tawny Port that showcases nearly four decades of slow oxidative ageing. Long cask maturation has concentrated the wine into a rich amber colour with complex layers of flavour that only time can create.
On the nose, it offers an elegant mix of dried apricots, orange peel, toasted almond and caramelised sugar, lifted by subtle notes of spice and old wood. These aromas translate seamlessly to the palate, where the wine is silky, balanced and deeply expressive. The extended ageing brings great harmony between sweetness, acidity and nutty depth. …
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Price: £145.00
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, …
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Price: £79.00
Stock: 113 in Stock
Refosco, 1986
dal Peduncolo Rosso, F.lli Pighin
Refosco is a very old Italian family of dark-skinned grape varieties native to the northern Italian and neighbouring areas of Friuli, Gavi, Trentino,Istria, and Karst Plateau.It is considered autochthonous in these regions. The wines this grape yields can be quite powerful and tannic, with a deep violet color and a slight bitterness. On the palate, there are strong currant, wild berry and plum flavors. The wine can stand some aging.
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Price: £79.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Taittinger, 1986
New
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. …
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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 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
Chateau Milon, 1986
St Emilion Grand Cru
The 1986 Bordeaux vintage was highly regarded on the Left Bank for its structured, age-worthy wines, while the Right Bank produced good but more variable results. In Saint-Émilion, the year delivered firm, classically styled reds with notable tannins and freshness. These wines, now almost four decades on, show their maturity with developed complexity while retaining some backbone from the cooler season.
Tasting Note
This 1986 Château Milon opens with a brick-tinged garnet colour, reflecting its long evolution in bottle. The bouquet is mature and inviting, showing dried red fruits, leather, cedar, and hints of tobacco leaf. …
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Price: £89.95
Stock: Out of Stock
Chateau Palmer, 1986
Margaux 3me Cru Classe 93 Points - Wine Journal
*** 93 Points Wine Journal ***
Reviews "This is one of the great Palmers of the 1980s, though it is several years since I last encountered it. Here, there is one word that springs to mind-class. Wonderful definition, a little reserved at first, but wonderfully defined with cedar, sandalwood and cigar box. The palate has firm tannins as you would expect from an -86, but it is married with Margaux femininity, leading to a lovely, supple finish with graphite and blackberry lingering on the back palate. Superb. Drink now-2018. Tasted November 2009." Neil Martin, Wine Journal
Château Palmer, …
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Price: £285.00
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
Chianti, 1986
Fattoria Concadoro - Gerasi
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.
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Price: £99.00
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
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: Out of Stock