Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

Time was on its side............ Yes it was.
Like the 86 Medocs I always wondered if the fruit would outlast the tannins.
It seems to have here.
Although I doubt it will get better this had a wonderful cherry/blackberry liqueur characteristic and the tannins seemed to have given up the ghost and fallen to the floor exhausted after such a long fight.
Very nice with a simple London broil on a hot grill , with nice fresh garden vegetables.
Made for a relaxing evening after fighting critters in the garden and brewing a 10 gallon batch of IPA.
93

what kind of vintage was 86 in the Southern Rhone? I remember liking the 85s but it was the 1990 vintage that brought me into the fold when a very young Marcoux intrigued me.

1986 was not a very good vintage in the Southern Rhone. A lot of them are over the hill, but Beaucastel has the ability to age better than most.

I have had a few of the better 1986s, and without exception, they have all been in good shape. Rayas and Bonneau Celestins are particularly good, but VT, Beaucastel and Mont Redon were all excellent.

I've never had the Celestins and haven't had the Beaucastel or VT in over 5 years but they were drinking really well then.