3 double-magnums per lot
Details
Château Mouton Rothschild--Vintage 1986
Pauillac, 1er cru classé
Two slightly corroded capsules. Two slightly bin-soiled and one slightly creased label. Levels two into neck, one base of neck. Offered in individual double-magnum original wooden cases
Vintage Report 1986
I must confess, my first, second and most recent impressions of this vintage have varied. At first I didn't know quite what to make of it. Then, after the 1988s came along I saw a certain similarity, linking the '86s and '88s as firm, relatively slow off the mark. But can the most prolific crop since World War Two, 15 bigger than 1985, produce wines of real quality? The '85s managed it, but the weather conditions were slightly different. In 1986 bud break was delayed, though the weather improved and the flowering was successful. The summer was hot and dry until the latter part of September when, after a useful sprinkling of rain, there was a violent storm which dumped 10cm of rain on the city of Bordeaux and its immediate surroundings. The harvest began at the very end of September and continued into October in glorious weather. Having read through a large number of my notes, my impression of the vintage has become more clarified, and I think I can answer the question posed above.
On the whole, 1986 produced hard, tannic wines which at best, given time, might - just might - turn out well. But I would not bank on it, except for Mouton and just one or two others. They are of course good 'food wines' and are unlikely to go 'over the hill' without plenty of notice.
3 double-magnums per lot
Pauillac, 1er cru classé
Two slightly corroded capsules. Two slightly bin-soiled and one slightly creased label. Levels two into neck, one base of neck. Offered in individual double-magnum original wooden cases
Vintage Report 1986
I must confess, my first, second and most recent impressions of this vintage have varied. At first I didn't know quite what to make of it. Then, after the 1988s came along I saw a certain similarity, linking the '86s and '88s as firm, relatively slow off the mark. But can the most prolific crop since World War Two, 15 bigger than 1985, produce wines of real quality? The '85s managed it, but the weather conditions were slightly different. In 1986 bud break was delayed, though the weather improved and the flowering was successful. The summer was hot and dry until the latter part of September when, after a useful sprinkling of rain, there was a violent storm which dumped 10cm of rain on the city of Bordeaux and its immediate surroundings. The harvest began at the very end of September and continued into October in glorious weather. Having read through a large number of my notes, my impression of the vintage has become more clarified, and I think I can answer the question posed above.
On the whole, 1986 produced hard, tannic wines which at best, given time, might - just might - turn out well. But I would not bank on it, except for Mouton and just one or two others. They are of course good 'food wines' and are unlikely to go 'over the hill' without plenty of notice.
3 double-magnums per lot
Brought to you by
Simon Tam