Producer Article
Château Beychevelle
Last edited on 5/19/2010 by cliffkol
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THE WINE DOCTOR
Bordeaux 1986
The 1986 vintage followed on from a string of successes for Bordeaux, including the much lauded 1982 vintage, but also the 1985 vintage which has provided plenty of delicious, balanced wines which I have enjoyed. In fact, 1984 was the only disappointment in the preceding five years, but even here there are one or two good wines to be found.
The summer of 1986 was dry and hot, and unusually a little light rain in mid-September was welcomed because of concerns over the near-drought conditions. This brief period of precipitation prevented significant dehydration stress and permitted continuing photosynthesis and maturation of the fruit. Unfortunately, however, before the end of the month a storm hit Bordeaux, and this was much less welcome. This storm swept through Graves, Pomerol and St Emilion, with some influence on the more northerly communes. This storm was a crucial factor in determining the quality of the final wines. Those chateaux that harvested immediately after the storm brought in swollen grapes which made poor, dilute wine. Aggressive selection was necessary to produce anything of quality. Those that waited, however, reaped the benefit of several weeks of excellent weather. It is these chateaux that made the most successful wines.
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. Crop size was down at many of the top properties, which only serves to emphasise the tannin. In vertical tastings the 1986 usually stands out because of this particular quality. They are long-lived wines which require in many cases two decades or more of time in the cellar before they will be approachable. My only concern, expressed as these wines approach twenty years of age, is that some will not have the necessary substance to survive long enough for the tannins to integrate. (7/2/01)
THE WINE DOCTOR
Bordeaux 1986
The 1986 vintage followed on from a string of successes for Bordeaux, including the much lauded 1982 vintage, but also the 1985 vintage which has provided plenty of delicious, balanced wines which I have enjoyed. In fact, 1984 was the only disappointment in the preceding five years, but even here there are one or two good wines to be found.
The summer of 1986 was dry and hot, and unusually a little light rain in mid-September was welcomed because of concerns over the near-drought conditions. This brief period of precipitation prevented significant dehydration stress and permitted continuing photosynthesis and maturation of the fruit. Unfortunately, however, before the end of the month a storm hit Bordeaux, and this was much less welcome. This storm swept through Graves, Pomerol and St Emilion, with some influence on the more northerly communes. This storm was a crucial factor in determining the quality of the final wines. Those chateaux that harvested immediately after the storm brought in swollen grapes which made poor, dilute wine. Aggressive selection was necessary to produce anything of quality. Those that waited, however, reaped the benefit of several weeks of excellent weather. It is these chateaux that made the most successful wines.
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. Crop size was down at many of the top properties, which only serves to emphasise the tannin. In vertical tastings the 1986 usually stands out because of this particular quality. They are long-lived wines which require in many cases two decades or more of time in the cellar before they will be approachable. My only concern, expressed as these wines approach twenty years of age, is that some will not have the necessary substance to survive long enough for the tannins to integrate. (7/2/01)