The 1986 Château Mouton Rothschild is a remarkable and intense vintage, offering a dark ruby color with a complex and evolving bouquet. The nose reveals a fascinating blend of nuts, prunes, toffee, rancio, peppery spice, and cedarwood. On the palate, it is dense and powerful, with tightly-knit tannins and a rich, smooth profile. Flavors of jammy fruit, wild berries, and blackcurrant liqueur lead into a finish marked by notes of toast. This vintage showcases the classic power and structure of Mouton Rothschild, with its 80% Cabernet Sauvignon dominance.

The Wine Advocate | RP 100
Published: Dec 30, 2016
Drink: 2021-2050

The 1986 Mouton-Rothschild is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot that was picked from 2 October until 16 October. Winemaker Philippe Dhalluin, who was not working at the property back then, told me that the pH was fairly low at 3.54 when it is usually around 3.75, due to the natural tartaric acid in the vines. It has a powerful and intense bouquet as always: exemplary graphite and cedar scents, a touch of black pepper and incense. It seems to unfurl in the glass, like a motor revving its engine. The palate is beautifully balanced with its trademark firm tannic structure, a Mouton-Rothschild with backbone and masculinity. Layers of black fruit intermingling with mint and graphite, a hint of licorice emanating from the Merlot, gently fanning out and my God, it is incredibly long. It is not like the 1985 Mouton-Rothschild that is so fleshy and generous. This is serious, aristocratic Mouton, a true vin de garde and yes, I do think drinkers will have to wait until it reaches its true peak. Sometimes that's just the way it is. Tasted September 2016.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 100
Published: Oct 17, 2019

This is finally coming around with such fine tannins and beautiful fruit after all these years. Full and balanced. Historical. And so long. Stunning. Fresh and bright.

Decanter | D 100
Published: Mouton Rothschild Interview
Drink: 2017-2040

Wonderful, concentrated and still astonishingly young, this has brushes of violet aromatics rising above the tight cassis fruits and rich black truffle, and the classic menthol edging of a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated Pauillac. We drank this over lunch and it was breathtaking, but were told that 24 hours later it had blossomed even further, so make sure you give this a serious amount of time in carafe to open up - something that gives you just a small clue as to how structured, layered and complex the wine we are dealing with here is. 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 19
Published: Jul 28, 2016
Drink: 2012-2040

This was always an exceptional wine, but an exceptionally slow-maturing one. It was served blind and seemed immediately like Mouton with its sweet, light mintiness and spice. This opulent monument of a wine has at least cast off enough tannin to provide majestic drinking now. What a treat to encounter this wine again at this exciting stage of its life.

Chateau-mouton-rothschild.com

Tasting Notes
The 1986 vintage displays a dark, intense color with a ruby tint. The nose reveals aromas of nuts and prunes, complemented by notes of toffee, rancio, peppery spice, and cedarwood. On the palate, the wine is dense, with forward and tightly-knit tannins, offering a powerful, rich, and smooth profile. Flavors of jammy fruit, wild berries, and blackcurrant liqueur lead into a finish marked by notes of toast.

Blend Composition: 
Cabernet Sauvignon: 80%
Merlot: 10%
Cabernet Franc: 8%
Petit Verdot: 2%

The label for this vintage features artwork by Bernard Séjourné (1947–1994).