1987 Wine

1987 Wine

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The 1987 vintage is one of the most understated years of the late 20th century. A long winter, a cool summer, and late-September rains imposed strict sorting and yielded early-drinking wines with a light structure: wines of immediate pleasure, built on fruit and suppleness rather than power. The hierarchy of the year is clear for the buyer: the Northern Rhône represents the true peak of the vintage, borne by ripe and distinguished Côte-Rôties such as those from Guigal; in Bordeaux, Merlot brought in before the rains produced supple, mellow reds, with Graves and Pomerol leading the way, as illustrated by Château La Mission Haut-Brion. A connoisseur's vintage, to be chosen bottle by bottle: our Vintage Guide helps to place 1987 in context and to identify the most accomplished regions

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Selection of Bordeaux grands crus classés available in the 1987 vintage at SoDivin

Bordeaux Grands Crus Classés
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SoDivin Vintage Guide

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Blog article 1987 vintage

Our article on the 1987 vintage

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The F.A.Q

Can a 1987 wine still be drunk?

Yes, a 1987 wine can still be enjoyed, provided it has been stored in good conditions. The 1987 red wines from Bordeaux (particularly from Graves or Pomerol) now offer supple and mellow profiles, whilst the 1987 Sauternes have retained their sweetness and elegance. The best crafted 1987 Burgundy and northern Rhône wines are also still pleasant to drink, although they are past their peak.

What is the style of 1987 red wines?

The 1987 red wines are distinguished by their freshness, suppleness and balance. These are not wines for long ageing, but they seduce with their aromatic finesse. In Bordeaux, fruit dominates with notes of plum, tobacco and fine leather. In Burgundy, the 1987 reds are more delicate, marked by aromas of cherry and undergrowth. These are wines at maturity, perfect for lovers of nuance and elegance.

Why buy a 1987 wine today?

A 1987 wine is an excellent opportunity for lovers of old vintages wishing to discover a discreet but balanced year. This vintage offers accessible, supple and elegant wines, perfect for accompanying a historic tasting or a 1987 birthday gift. On SoDivin.fr, you will find a rigorous selection of great 1987 wines: Bordeaux, Burgundy, Sauternes, Rhône or Champagne, stored in optimal conditions to guarantee their full authenticity.

1987 Vintage: a discreet year where the Northern Rhône makes the difference

The 1987 vintage ranks among the most understated years of the late 20th century, and it is precisely this that makes it interesting today for the curious enthusiast. After an interminable winter and a wet spring, July and August remained cool and lacking in sunshine; a warm September revived ripeness before the late-month rains dictated the harvest. Volumes were modest and sorting was decisive. For the buyer, the hierarchy is clear: the primary focus should be on the Northern Rhône, then the Graves and Pomerols of Bordeaux; Burgundy should be chosen estate by estate, and Champagne reserved for lovers of aged bubbles.

Northern Rhône 1987 — the peak of the vintage, Côte-Rôtie leading the way

The Northern Rhône is the true success story of 1987. The return of fine weather in September allowed full ripeness in the north, while the south, more affected by rain, produced softer and more fleeting wines. Côte-Rôtie stands out clearly, with ripe Syrah, silky fruit, and floral and peppery notes. Hermitage is more uneven and requires careful estate-by-estate selection. This is the region to target first in this vintage.

Guigal's Côte-Rôtie embodies the pinnacle of the year, with ripe and deep hillside cuvées. In Cornas, Domaine Auguste Clape confirms the consistency of a great Syrah terroir, with a savoury, peppery and remarkably fresh profile that has aged very well.

Bordeaux 1987 — Merlot saves the day, Graves and Pomerol take the spotlight

In Bordeaux, everything came down to the harvest date. The Merlot, ripening earlier, was often brought in before the late-September rains: the Right Bank and Graves clearly outpaced a more dilute Médoc. The result is supple, velvety reds of immediate charm rather than long ageing potential. The dry whites of Graves performed even slightly better than the reds. The sweet wines of Sauternes, however, suffered from uneven noble rot (botrytis) and are inconsistent.

In Graves, Château Haut-Brion produced one of the most accomplished reds of the year, with smoky dark fruit and notes of tobacco and herbs. On the Pomerol plateau, Petrus delivered one of the most complete wines of the vintage, while the tiny Le Pin is a reminder of the magic of this terroir even in modest years. In Sauternes, Château d'Yquem drew from this difficult year a fine, perfectly integrated liqueur.

Burgundy 1987 — small volumes, a matter of the estate

Burgundy experienced a challenging year, marked by storms and low yields. Yet rigorous sorting sometimes made for quality: healthy grapes produced reds of fine straightforwardness. On the Côte de Nuits, the pinot noirs from Vosne-Romanée, Chambolle-Musigny and Gevrey-Chambertin offer pure fruit and fine tannins, today delicately mellowed. The whites from Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet retain a pleasing tension and toasted almond aromatics.

In this demanding vintage, the estate's signature makes all the difference. Domaine Dujac exemplifies the finesse and drinkability of the great pinots from the Côte de Nuits, while the house of Louis Jadot confirms a precise winemaking approach that is respectful of the appellation.

Champagne 1987 — a rare year, reserved for lovers of aged bubbles

In Champagne, 1987 was a delicate year in which ripeness was slow to arrive: most houses did not declare a vintage cuvée. The rare bottles produced are therefore collector's pieces, to be opened with care. The finest examples offer a delicate bubble and preserved balance, with refined tertiary aromas.

Among the cuvées that lovers of old champagnes may seek out, Palmer & Co offers a vintage wine with a mellow texture, a testament to a year in which only the finest wines were able to stand the test of time.

Buy a 1987 wine from SoDivin

The 1987 wine is aimed at the enthusiast in search of the emotion of a mature bottle: a great Côte-Rôtie from the Northern Rhône, the peak of the year, a mellow Pomerol or Graves, a delicate pinot from the Côte de Nuits, or a rare champagne built for ageing. Each bottle in our selection is expertly assessed, checked for authenticity and provenance, then stored at controlled temperature and humidity before dispatch. To compare vintages and refine your choice, consult the SoDivin Vintage Guide.

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