86’ Mouton or Lafite or ??

[Howard_Cooper]

We took a '98 Haut Brion to a dinner back in January right before the shutdown-it was amazing. No hurry to open one obviously but it was in a pretty good place.

This is on my bucket list for sure. Along with the 89. Other icons for me would be 82 PLL, 90 Montrose, which should fall well within the OP’s budget, even if we have shifted on his original prerequisite of 1986

Avoid the 1990 Montrose. When it is good, it is indeed great, but a significant percentage had seriously high levels of Brett and were undrinkable. Pichon Lalande would have been a great go to fifteen years ago. Magnificent wine, but it now is in the category of you don’t have great wines but great bottles.

Some other suggestions where you could buy multiple bottles:
1998 Trotanoy
1996 Leoville Las Cases
1990 Haut Brion
2005 VCC
1985 Cheval Blanc
Pichon Lalande 1989
1

How about 1989 Montrose instead of the 1990. I have had each of these twice. The first time I preferred the 1989 and the second time the 1990. The 1989 was consistently excellent both times, the 1990 was not. I love the 1996 LLC.

[Howard_Cooper]

If we are just sticking to 1986, my choices would be Rausan Selgla, Talbot, Gruaud Larose and Pichon Lalande - never been disappointed with any of those - all 94 to 97 points. Of course Mouton is very impressive but it’s a lot more expensive and can be grumpy. Not as big a fan of Margaux as some in this vintage - and I have had it many times. Yquem and Climens are my favorite Sauternes in that vintage (with a slight preference for Climens).

I have not had the Talbot, but otherwise I agree on the Rausan Segla, Gruaud Larose and Pichon Lalande. When the pandemic ends, a 1986 Bordeaux tasting would be interesting.

[rsmithjr]

1986 Leoville Las cases is a wine to behold…

[Mark_Golodetz]

If we are just sticking to 1986, my choices would be Rausan Selgla, Talbot, Gruaud Larose and Pichon Lalande - never been disappointed with any of those - all 94 to 97 points. Of course Mouton is very impressive but it’s a lot more expensive and can be grumpy. Not as big a fan of Margaux as some in this vintage - and I have had it many times. Yquem and Climens are my favorite Sauternes in that vintage (with a slight preference for Climens).

I have not had the Talbot, but otherwise I agree on the Rausan Segla, Gruaud Larose and Pichon Lalande. When the pandemic ends, a 1986 Bordeaux tasting would be interesting.

I am up for it.

[Jurgen_Steinke]

Talbot 86 is a typical Cordier wine with lots of brett. My last two bottles showed a hefty dose of band aid. Extended decanting helped a bit but could not eliminate it completely. 1986 Las Cases is superb but not very different from the Mouton in terms of development. It still is a young wine depending how cold the bottle was stored.