At the end of last year I had an experience which is making me want to get my hands on some '96 and '86 Bordeaux. Looking to get a 50th birthday present for a friend of mine, earlier in the year I had jotted down some '74 wines to track down…and then pretty quickly forgot. Then later last year when the clock was ticking and I opened up wine searcher to look for the wines I had written down, but lo and behold everything was already sold out!
So as the 30th and 40th anniversaries of '96 and '86 approach, I wanted to see what I could find to drink (and one or two to give as birthday presents) before they all get bought up. If anyone has experience with these vintages, please lend some insight, and thank you for the help! I plan to drink most all of what I get in the near term, so I promise to post some tasting notes when I do.
I’ve combed through past posts here and already bought some bottles in addition to the couple of '96 and '86 I had on hand (only one '86), but the list below is what I can piece together so far of favorites of the vintage (I’ve also started to ask some somms at restaurants for their favorites of the vintage, which I can’t believe I didn’t think of before this):
That’s a fantastic list for each of the two vintages. I’ve had quite a few of those wines over the past couple of years, as I’ve been focused on a lot of backfilling. I’m actually popping a 1985 Lalande tonight. The only addition I would recommend, and with your list, it’s actually a QPR, the 1996 Leoville Barton. They produced a very special wine in that vintage.
Nice list overall. 86 RS is probably best RS of at least latter half of 20th century , and great vintage for Cordier (Talbot, Gruaud, and cheap Meyney).
But a little surprised to see Angelus and Trotanoy on list. I’m a Trot fanboy, but not so much the 96. VCC is the only RB I think is really strong in 96
Not a bad shopping list, though I’d be inclined to replace those '96 Right Bankers. Add Cos d’Estournel and Cuvee Jean Gautreau (the latter of which will also give you a better shot at clean provenance).
This is fun.
I’ve had '86 Margaux a few times and never felt it represented “margaux” well. More like a good Pauillac. Otherwise, excellent list.
Never had the '96 Right bankers, not a famous right bank year but I would defer to those who have actually had the wines
Good to know, I’m much less familiar with the right bank and can’t actually remember where I picked up those two recs. Keith_Levenberg seems to agree. Thanks guys.
Very good intel, thanks. I’ve always been a little more hesitant buying the first growths because of the potential expectations gap.
Personally I would drop BAMA and RS- good wines but not really in the league of the rest of the lineup and they might get lost.
I would strongly advise adding 96 Margaux- I am not generally a fan of 96 but that is a very strong wine and it will pair well with the Lafite to stand against your 86 Mouton/Lafite combo.
96 LLC to go with the 86 LLC - that should be a lot of fun.
If you want a dessert wine at the end- 1986 d’Yquem is sensationally good (I personally prefer it to the 88-90 trio) and would be a really nice way to end the evening.
Your 1986 list is spot-on for my taste.
Agree with Dale that you won’t go wrong by looking into other Cordier wines, as well as a Right Bank one from Ch. Magdelaine.
Would it make more sense if I qualified my original statement by saying I am not sure either would have the “heft” to keep up with the rest? For my part, I would rather have Magdelaine than many of the wines on that list- but I would be reluctant to put it in a lineup like that for fear of it not having the sheer power to keep up. I have not had Rausan in that vintage- so if I am still wrong, then I need to give that one a try.
Tom, you definitely need to try the Rauzan 1986. It’s one of the wines of the vintage, and I have paired it several times with the ‘86 Margaux, which it just crushes.
Generally the ‘86 vintage has not been one I chased, but the exceptions where the tannins have been contained, are extremely good, and I do look for them. I have yet to find a really great Right Banker, but the VCC and Figeac, both of which contain a lot of Cabernet, are excellent.
I really like the top echelon of 1996. Again a Cabernet vintage, and very aromatic, but the tannins are much finer than 1986. Also a left bank vintage.