1986 vintage guide for Italy Tuscany

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A good year with plenty of very drinkable wines

3/5

Weather Conditions

The spring in Tuscany was cool and wet everywhere and there was also frost in more exposed parts of Chianti and also at Montalcino. The weather was very mixed over the early part of the summer, but set fine towards the end of July and stayed hot, dry and sunny through to October. The harvest was slightly late in some places but the grapes were picked everywhere in perfect conditions.

Best Appellations

A very good if slightly underrated vintage for Chianti and Montepulciano, where conditions favoured Riservas. The wines were certainly superior in extract and aroma to the 1987s if not quite as full-bodied as the more highly quoted 1985s. Cabernet-based Super Tuscans also did well. Brunello was good but not outstanding and on the whole showed better early on.

Best Producers

Among the Chianti Classico Riservas there were very good performances from Riecine, Castell’in Villa, Ama’s Vigneto Bellavista and Fontodi’s Vigna del Sorbo. Fonterutoli’s Ser Lapo Riserva was a Decanter Award winner. Among the Super Tuscans the Sangiovese-based Fontalloro and Pergole Torte aged very well as did Rampolla’s Sanmarco. It was a very good vintage too for Antinori’s Solaia.