What the critics scored the 1986
2 critic scores from 2 reviewers, on the 100-point scale from 89/100 to 94/100. Score: 91.5 out of 100.
The dated reviews run from 1993 to 1994, young and mature bottles alike.
By score the 1986 ranks 37th of 39 scored Louis Roederer Cristal vintages, 4.4 points below their review-weighted 95.9.
The 1980s by score: 1981 94.0, 1982 96.0, 1983 93.5, 1985 95.7, 1986 91.5, 1988 94.8 and 1989 96.0. The 1986 trails the decade.
| Score | Reviewed |
|---|---|
| 94/100 | December 1994 |
| 89/100 | December 1993 |
A chewy and flavorful wine with lemon, berry, almond character, high acidity and a bitter almond finish. Drink now. -
What drinkers rate it
93.8 out of 100 from 11 drinker ratings, the most recent in February 2025.
That is 2.3 points above the critics' score.
Drinker rank: 26th of 44 (tied with 1989, 1990 and 1997). The most-rated vintage has 559 ratings.
5 written notes, January 2019 to February 2025, rating it 94 to 96.
So very lemon meringue pie, with tart thread of acidity, relatively high dosage (flirting with demi-sec), lush mineral/glycerol mouthfeel and ripe apricot emerging on the long finish. Outstanding depth and decadence. Light effervescent bubbles. An immediate crowdpleaser.
Amber with lots of apple and a bit of vervain very elegant snd complex. Full bodied and fine bubbles and excellent length
blindThe typical scent for an aged Cristal. For this weak vintage a great stored bottle. At his peak. 94
not blindFor a wine from this vintage in great shape. A lot of fine bubbles. Typical nougat note. Electrifying acidity. For a really big champagne could be more length and density. 94
NYE 2019 with friends who brought this wine. This was the WOTN. This is a wonderful expression of an aged LR Cristal. Warm and soft mouthfeel with absolutely resolved acidity which makes this wine so creamy. Paper and cardboard flavors mid palette with a finish of cedar wood and apricot nut. Simply delightful !
What it has traded at
| Month | Low | Median | High | Trades |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-01 | £298 | £298 | £298 | 1 |
| 2018-02 | £389 | £389 | £389 | 1 |
| 2019-05 | £292 | £292 | £292 | 1 |
| 2020-07 | £524 | £524 | £524 | 1 |
| 2022-01 | £469 | £469 | £469 | 1 |
5 trade months, January 2017 to January 2022, 5 sales. Median £298 to £469, up 57 per cent.
Cheapest sale £292 (May 2019), dearest £524 (July 2020).
That last sale is 4 years old: history, not a quote.
1 other vintage also last traded in 2022: 0 cheaper, 1 dearer.
The 1986 against its neighbours
The 1986 beside its 4 nearest recorded years.
Here, by score, it places 5th of 5.
| Vintage | Score | Drinkers | Window | Last trade | Retail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 93.5 | 91.9 (32) | 1992 to 2033 | £239, May 2016 | None |
| 1985 | 95.7 | 93.3 (41) | 1994 to 2028 | £301, June 2018 | None |
| 1986 | 91.5 | 93.8 (11) | None | £469, January 2022 | None |
| 1988 | 94.8 | 94.5 (28) | 1999 to 2034 | £301, April 2018 | None |
| 1989 | 96.0 | 93.8 (44) | 2000 to 2028 | £263, February 2017 | None |