1986 Château Margaux Margaux Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

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1986
94
Better on the nose than on the palate with its austere, rustic edge to its tannins, there is a wealth of ripe fruit, but the finish is a bit rough around the edges. This is best for tasters longing for days gone by. Give it air, and, or time. Drink from 2022-2040.

Better on the nose than on the palate with its austere, rustic edge to its tannins, there is a wealth of ripe fruit, but the finish is a bit rough around the edges. This is best for tasters longing for days gone by. Give it air, and, or time. Drink from 2022-2040.

3,855 Views   Tasted
Most wines improve with age, provided they have all the right stuff. Here, you have a wine with all the right stuff, but the hard nature of its tannins and austere character is becoming the dominant force in this wine. This is an old school classic with a stern nature, great nose, power and hard tannins that overwhelms the fruit. If the austere nature of the vintage captures your fancy, you will like this a lot more than I did.

Most wines improve with age, provided they have all the right stuff. Here, you have a wine with all the right stuff, but the hard nature of its tannins and austere character is becoming the dominant force in this wine. This is an old school classic with a stern nature, great nose, power and hard tannins that overwhelms the fruit. If the austere nature of the vintage captures your fancy, you will like this a lot more than I did.

4,635 Views   Tasted
The wine, or at least this bottle seems to have become more tannic over the years. With 4 hours of air, the wine retained its tannic spine. Powerful, full-bodied, dense and aromatic, the wine fills your mouth with ripe, fresh, bright, earthy, red fruits. The finish is long and while somewhat strict, there is a regal air to the fruits. But you find a bit of a stern character in the ending that is always going to remain a part of the experience.

The wine, or at least this bottle seems to have become more tannic over the years. With 4 hours of air, the wine retained its tannic spine. Powerful, full-bodied, dense and aromatic, the wine fills your mouth with ripe, fresh, bright, earthy, red fruits. The finish is long and while somewhat strict, there is a regal air to the fruits. But you find a bit of a stern character in the ending that is always going to remain a part of the experience.

4,522 Views   Tasted
A very good wine, but clearly in the style of the 1986 vintage, with is classically styled leaning. The nose, with its earthy, cedar, smoke, tobacco, cassis and cherry is more interesting than what you find on the palate, which offers a powerful, full bodied, deep essence of dark, red fruits. Time will help add more nuances here, but if you are going to pop a cork today, give it a few hours of air. You and the wine will be happier.

A very good wine, but clearly in the style of the 1986 vintage, with is classically styled leaning. The nose, with its earthy, cedar, smoke, tobacco, cassis and cherry is more interesting than what you find on the palate, which offers a powerful, full bodied, deep essence of dark, red fruits. Time will help add more nuances here, but if you are going to pop a cork today, give it a few hours of air. You and the wine will be happier.

6,361 Views   Tasted
Firm, structured and tannnic, this needs time in the decanter. But even with air, this is always going to be on the strict side. Aromatically, it is a beauty. There is a wealth of ripe, sweet, fruits, but there is a tannnic bite to the finish.

Firm, structured and tannnic, this needs time in the decanter. But even with air, this is always going to be on the strict side. Aromatically, it is a beauty. There is a wealth of ripe, sweet, fruits, but there is a tannnic bite to the finish.

6,806 Views   Tasted
More complete on the nose, with its earth, cedar, tobacco, black and dark red fruit profile than on the palate. The wine is concentrated, but it's not exactly charming, instead it's more of a tannic, structured, big, masculine style of wine for Margaux. There is quality, but the style is old school and it's important to note, this needs 3-4 hours of air, or another 10-15 more years in the decanter.

More complete on the nose, with its earth, cedar, tobacco, black and dark red fruit profile than on the palate. The wine is concentrated, but it's not exactly charming, instead it's more of a tannic, structured, big, masculine style of wine for Margaux. There is quality, but the style is old school and it's important to note, this needs 3-4 hours of air, or another 10-15 more years in the decanter.

5,403 Views   Tasted
This wine needs decanting to soften its tannins and masculine side. With air, the earthy, tobacco driven nose, pairs perfectly with the ripe, but masculine styled red and black fruits that leaves you with some dusty textures in the finish. This is still evolving. Time and air will help improve the experience.

This wine needs decanting to soften its tannins and masculine side. With air, the earthy, tobacco driven nose, pairs perfectly with the ripe, but masculine styled red and black fruits that leaves you with some dusty textures in the finish. This is still evolving. Time and air will help improve the experience.

6,710 Views   Tasted
This is a very good wine, but it's always going to have this tannic spine that even with 4 hours of decanting, remains part of its character. The fruit is there, as are complex aromatics and concentration of flavor, but it lacks the soft, sensuous side of Margaux at its best. This is a good wine, in a more classic style that has the potential to become one of the better 1986 wines with more age.

This is a very good wine, but it's always going to have this tannic spine that even with 4 hours of decanting, remains part of its character. The fruit is there, as are complex aromatics and concentration of flavor, but it lacks the soft, sensuous side of Margaux at its best. This is a good wine, in a more classic style that has the potential to become one of the better 1986 wines with more age.

8,190 Views   Tasted
I liked this wine. But the dryness in the tannic finish was more pronounced than in other bottles I've tasted. There was a lot to like with its layers of cassis, dark berry, truffle and tobacco personality. This is a what some tasters might call classic in style. I own a few bottles and I'm waiting another 5 - 10 years, hoping, or is that praying the tannins soften.

I liked this wine. But the dryness in the tannic finish was more pronounced than in other bottles I've tasted. There was a lot to like with its layers of cassis, dark berry, truffle and tobacco personality. This is a what some tasters might call classic in style. I own a few bottles and I'm waiting another 5 - 10 years, hoping, or is that praying the tannins soften.

9,001 Views   Tasted
Served blind, I was more than surprised to find this was a 1986 vintage. The tannins, fruit and acidity were in balance. The tobacco, cassis, earth, espresso, smoke and blackberry filled perfume was alive and well. There was a softness to the texture and a richness of flavor. The wine also seemed to be at least 10-15 years younger. This was the best bottle of 1986 Margaux I've tasted in years as it displayed none of the typical austere qualities found in most Bordeaux from the 1986 vintage. I own a few bottles of this and based on this tasting, I have high hopes that for consumers with enough patience to wait another decade, this will be a truly sublime vintage of Chateau Margaux.

Served blind, I was more than surprised to find this was a 1986 vintage. The tannins, fruit and acidity were in balance. The tobacco, cassis, earth, espresso, smoke and blackberry filled perfume was alive and well. There was a softness to the texture and a richness of flavor. The wine also seemed to be at least 10-15 years younger. This was the best bottle of 1986 Margaux I've tasted in years as it displayed none of the typical austere qualities found in most Bordeaux from the 1986 vintage. I own a few bottles of this and based on this tasting, I have high hopes that for consumers with enough patience to wait another decade, this will be a truly sublime vintage of Chateau Margaux.

10,527 Views   Tasted
86 Margaux is developing along the lines of many 86 Bordeaux, The lean, austere side of the vintage is being to upstage the elegant leanings of even Chateau Margaux. Complex aromatics start the off, but on the palate, the wine feels lean, masculine and austere. This stern style of Margaux is powerful, the level of the hard tannins, detracts from the tasting experience. Perhaps this will change course and become more pleasurable with time, the wine does not seem to be heading in that direction. 93 Pts

86 Margaux is developing along the lines of many 86 Bordeaux, The lean, austere side of the vintage is being to upstage the elegant leanings of even Chateau Margaux. Complex aromatics start the off, but on the palate, the wine feels lean, masculine and austere. This stern style of Margaux is powerful, the level of the hard tannins, detracts from the tasting experience. Perhaps this will change course and become more pleasurable with time, the wine does not seem to be heading in that direction. 93 Pts

15,784 Views   Tasted
The nose is treated to an orgasmic display of aromatics. Coffee, licorice, truffles, black fruits, cassis and floral scents are easy to discern. The texture is incredibly dense, rich and concentrated. Layers of opulent, rich, ripe Margaux fruit coat your palate in a finish that lasts :45 seconds! This is not an austere wine, but, the finish retains a tannic edge which will probably remain a part of its brawny, old school personality.

The nose is treated to an orgasmic display of aromatics. Coffee, licorice, truffles, black fruits, cassis and floral scents are easy to discern. The texture is incredibly dense, rich and concentrated. Layers of opulent, rich, ripe Margaux fruit coat your palate in a finish that lasts :45 seconds! This is not an austere wine, but, the finish retains a tannic edge which will probably remain a part of its brawny, old school personality.

6,332 Views   Tasted
This is a very masculine and beefy styled wine. Huge, deep and concentrated, but with a very hard, tannic, brawny and beefy nature. I get the quality, but, this the wines austere, tannic nature is not something I seek in a wine that I look to for elegance. Perhaps time, another 15 or more years will soften this powerful wines edges.

This is a very masculine and beefy styled wine. Huge, deep and concentrated, but with a very hard, tannic, brawny and beefy nature. I get the quality, but, this the wines austere, tannic nature is not something I seek in a wine that I look to for elegance. Perhaps time, another 15 or more years will soften this powerful wines edges.

6,292 Views   Tasted
This bottle was in a beefy and masculine style with a complex perfume of cedar smoky black fruits, flowers and cassis. This example of 86 Margaux was not user friendly. Like all the top 86’s, it needs at least another decade to shed its tannic cloak. I prefer the 83 & 85 at this point

This bottle was in a beefy and masculine style with a complex perfume of cedar smoky black fruits, flowers and cassis. This example of 86 Margaux was not user friendly. Like all the top 86’s, it needs at least another decade to shed its tannic cloak. I prefer the 83 & 85 at this point

6,363 Views   Tasted
Very expressive, uniquely floral. Very concentrated with gobs of ripe fruit. This is one of the few Bordeaux winesx from the 1986 vintage that is not austere in style.

Very expressive, uniquely floral. Very concentrated with gobs of ripe fruit. This is one of the few Bordeaux winesx from the 1986 vintage that is not austere in style.

6,399 Views   Tasted

When to Drink Chateau Margaux, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Margaux is not a wine to drink on the young side. The wine is usually far too tannic, powerful, and reserved during its youth. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 3-6 hours, give or take. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau Margaux is usually better with at least 15 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Margaux offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 18 and 60 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Margaux with Wine, Food, Pairings

Chateau Margaux is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau Margaux is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Margaux is also good when matched with Asian dishes, rich fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.

The white wine of Chateau Margaux, Pavillon Blanc can be paired perfectly with all types of seafood, shellfish, sushi, sashimi, veal, chicken, pork, and assorted cheeses.

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