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 rigorous sorting and yielded early-drinking wines with a light structure: wines of immediate pleasure, focused 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, driven by ripe and distinguished Côte-Rôtie wines such as those of Guigal; in Bordeaux, Merlot harvested before the rains yields supple and mellow reds, led by Graves and Pomerol, as exemplified 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 successful 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 vintage 1987

Our article on the 1987 vintage

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The FAQ

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, while 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 aging, 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 quality 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 rekindled ripeness before the rains at the end of the month dictated the harvest. Volumes were modest and sorting was decisive. For the buyer, the hierarchy is clear: the priority is the northern Rhône, followed by the Graves and Pomerols of Bordeaux; Burgundy should be chosen estate by estate, and Champagne is reserved for lovers of old 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, yielded 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 needs to be selected estate by estate. 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 blood-red, peppery and remarkably fresh profile that has aged beautifully.

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

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

In Graves, Château Haut-Brion produces one of the most accomplished reds of the year, with smoky dark fruit and notes of tobacco and herbs. On the Pomerol plateau, Petrus delivers 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 the Sauternais, Château d'Yquem draws from this difficult year a refined and perfectly harmonious sweet wine.

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 the difference: healthy grapes produced reds of fine precision. On the Côte de Nuits, the Pinot Noirs from Vosne-Romanée, Chambolle-Musigny, and Gevrey-Chambertin offer pure fruit and fine tannins, today delicately aged. 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 illustrates the finesse and drinkability of the great Pinot Noirs 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 old bubbles

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

Among the cuvées that lovers of old Champagnes may seek out, Palmer & Co offers a vintage 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 highlight of the year, a mellow Pomerol or Graves, a delicate Pinot from the Côte de Nuits, or a rare aged Champagne. Each bottle in our selection is expertly assessed, verified for its authenticity and provenance, then stored at controlled temperature and humidity before shipping. To compare vintages and refine your choice, consult the SoDivin Vintage Guide.

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