The 1986 Beychevelle Bordeaux Blend is a notable red wine from the St Julien sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This vintage exemplifies the complexity and charm associated with Beychevelle, showcasing a blend that has aged with grace.

Wine Spectator awarded this wine a commendable score of 93, highlighting its "remarkably complex" profile. The review notes rich, concentrated flavors of tannic currant, spice, and anise, all enveloped in smoky, cedary oak, suggesting that the wine would benefit from further aging until 1997 or 1998.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, with a score of 90, describes the 1986 Beychevelle as having a "light-hearted nose with joie-de-vivre." Neal Martin remarks on its approachable nature compared to other 1986 Bordeaux wines, with aromas of wild strawberry, mulberry, cola, and graphite. The wine is medium-bodied with spice and clove on the palate, exhibiting a more rustic charm but maintaining a sense of classicism.

Jane Anson gave this vintage an impressive 95, emphasizing its “generous and full of pleasure” nature. She praises the wine’s ability to remain vibrant over time, with aromas of smoked earth, truffles, rose petals, and floral notes. The palate is marked by tobacco, undergrowth, and soft tannins, maintaining freshness and elegance. Anson acknowledges some bottle variation but expresses confidence in this particular example.

Vinous also rates the wine at 90, describing it as one of the better wines from an inconsistent decade for the property. Neal Martin notes the mature nose with loam, mulberry, and pencil-shaving scents, and a fleshy palate, though acknowledging a slight fade on the finish.

Overall, the 1986 Beychevelle is a well-regarded Bordeaux blend, praised for its complexity, charm, and longevity.