Our opinion on the 1983 vintage

Are you looking for a 1983 wine for a tasting, to mark an event or to celebrate a birthday? Discover our complete opinion on the 1983 vintage in all the major wine regions of France.

1983 vintage in Bordeaux

The 1983 vintage is of good quality in the Bordeaux vineyards. Most of the Châteaux de Bordeaux have had abundant harvests.

The year 1983 was marked by a tropical and humid heat during the summer, which caused an over-ripening of the grapes and the development of rot. However, the very summery late autumn caught up with the end of the season and offered optimal conditions for the harvest. Tasty and fruity, the 1983 Bordeaux red wines are powerful, remarkably long and balanced.

Médoc wines, in the Margaux appellation, are even today considered better than the 1982 vintage.

The 1983 Sauternes are extraordinarily long, unctuous and balanced.

We observe great successes in all the appellations. However, the wines of Pauillac, Pomerol and Saint-Emilion are to be preferred. We also recommend Château Lafite Rothschild 1983, Château Léoville Poyfferé 1983, Château Margaux 1983 and Château Cos d’Estournel 1983.

1983 Burgundy wines

The 1983 vintage was at first glance a somewhat mixed vintage. The wine region experienced an early spring from changeable weather conditions. Hail and bad weather arrived during the summer. Finally, the rains of September caused rot in the vineyards. However, a very strict sorting of the grapes during the harvest made it possible to solve the problem and to keep only the quality berries.

Burgundy red wines have been able to balance themselves over time. After a few years of aging, they have revealed their full potential. The 1983 Burgundy wines have structure and excellent length in the mouth.

Regarding the white wines of Burgundy, the quality is very satisfactory. Opulent and fat are the characteristics of these wines. They can be drunk now or kept for several years in the cellar.

1983 Rhône wines

The 1983 vintage is unquestionably the best vintage of the 80s in the northern Rhône Valley. In the northern Rhône, the summer was hot and dry with good weather conditions during the harvest, which made it possible to harvest ripe grapes.

The best red wines from the Rhône region in 1983 were in the Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie appellations. These wines offer opulent fruit and a powerful tannic structure. Characteristics that allow the wine to be kept for a long time in the cellar. For a tasting we recommend the excellent Guigal La Mouline 1983.

Regarding the white wines of 1983, the wines of Hermitage are fresh and elegant. In the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, the wines are generally of good quality, despite the heavy rains that fell during the harvest.

Our opinion about 1983 vintage in Champagne

Often overshadowed by the success of the 1982 vintage, the 1983 Champagnes are very good. The year 1983 was marked by a particularly cold winter and a wet spring, which delayed flowering. The summer heat during the summer and the harvest in September allowed the grapes to ripen well.

For a tasting of 1983 Champagnes, we suggest Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 1983 or Dom Pérignon 1983.

Our selection of 1983 wines

Château Latour 1983

SoDivin 92/100 – wine tasting december 2012

“Beautiful color slightly advanced. The wine does not deliver at the opening. It takes time but it will gradually express itself during the tasting. Black fruit, mushroom, very thick. The palate is rich and long. It does not have the genius found in a great vintage but it is a more than excellent ’83.”

Discover the Château Latour 1983

Domaine de Chevalier 1983

Robert Parker Wine Advocate 91/100 – wine tasting september 2003

“This beautiful, fully mature 1983 exhibits a dark garnet color in addition to gorgeous aromas of smoked herbs, earth, licorice, black fruits, and minerals. The elegant, complex perfume is followed by equally compelling, medium-bodied, expansive, savory flavors. It is a model of opulence, elegance, and finesse. “

Discover the Domaine de Chevalier 1983

SoDivin