Tasted at the chateau, the 1986 Phelan-Segur was actually the first vintage under Thierry Gardinier who bought the property in this year, also the first time that a second wine was introduced. At this time, there were stainless steel and metal tanks from the previous owner (actually the cousins of the Delon family at Leoville Las-Cases) in a cuverie that was half the size. It has a deep garnet core with just a little turbidity. The nose is rustic, tightly knit with stewed red plum, loamy soil and dried blood aromas. The palate is fully matured with good body and weight, rustic tannin, grainy in the mouth with black pepper and game. This is quite an animally Saint Estèphe, slightly chewy in the mouth. It is probably a wine more for interest's sake nowadays, although it deserves a polite round of applause for simply "hangin' in there" after 30 years. Tasted July 2016.

-JS