Chateau Beausejour Web

1986 Château Beauséjour

By Chateau Beausejour

1986 Beausejour Duffau-Lagarosse from Chateau Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux

The 1986 Beausejour Duffau-Lagarosse from Chateau Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse represents one of Saint-Emilion's most lavishly rich and opulent offerings, deeply ingrained with the narrative of the legendary vintage that stands woven within its very sinews. Fondly entrenched in my sensory memory, this vintage heralds from a period when Bordeaux was coming to understand the profound impact of its viticultural practices and choices upon the eventual splendour bottled.

 

Decoding the Terroir – An Enchanting Expression from a Noble Vintage

Awash in the historical grandeur of Bordeaux’s acclaimed right bank, the terroir of Chateau Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse is underlain with intrigue; its iron-rich clay and limestone soils impart a distinctive minerality and firm tannic backbone to their wines. The 1986 growing season bestowed upon us a cornucopia initialed with a relatively cool spring but soon anointed by a warm summer that architected ripe, concentrated berries.

Approaching four decades in slumber, the 1986 Beausejour Duffau-Lagarosse articulates itself with an eloquence of evolved aromatics: a melange of black truffle, cigar box, and cassis. The palate echoes this narrative, threading together a tapestry of tertiary flavours — underbrush, leather, spiced plums — which have emerged triumphant through the cradle of time. It is this measure of time, this patience in evolution, that constructs the framework necessary for this wine to disclose its chronicles.

 

An Ode to Sophistication – A Venerable Candidate for Fine Wine Investment

Parsing the nuances of such an esteemed vintage becomes a ritualistic tableau for fine wine investors seeking authenticity. Thus, unlocking the virtues of the 1986 Beausejour Duffau-Lagarosse inspires an investment both hedonistic and financial. Perched atop the pantheon as one of the lasting gems from Bordeaux in this celebrated era, its investment appeal is not merely tied to pedigree but cemented by provenance and performance. The enduring legacy encapsulated within this magnum opus from Chateau Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse is embellished by each decanted drop.

It remains without assertion that enthusiasts and investors alike will find themselves ensnared within the depths of this 1986 offering; a narrative steeped in reverence for place, patience in maturation, and poise upon presentation – a true connoisseur's jewel.

Current market price

£800.00

12x75cl

Highest score

83

POP score

266.67

Scores and tasting notes

83

From both cask and bottle, the 1986 has never seemed to be anything more than a lightweight, shallowly constructed, one-dimensional wine, with a lot of wood and tannin in the finish. Some fruit and charm has developed, but this is not one of the leaders in 1986. Anticipated maturity: now-2012 Last tasted, 3/89.

Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 31 December 1997

Vintage performance