1987 Château Margaux Margaux 750ml

The 1987 Château Margaux is an historic triumph of heroic viticulture and ruthless cellar selection. Furthermore, the 1987 growing season tested Bordeaux with persistent autumn rains during harvest. Under the brilliant leadership of Paul Pontallier, Château Margaux applied unprecedented selection standards. Consequently, the estate produced what is universally recognized as the undisputed wine of the vintage.

Additionally, Château Margaux remains the supreme paragon of elegance and floral perfume in Bordeaux. The estate relegated the majority of its crop to avoid any diluted fruit. Therefore, this mature 1987 allocation offers collectors a rare, fascinating glimpse into First Growth mastery under pressure.

Terroir & Viticulture

The historic vineyards of Château Margaux sit on deep, gravelly mounds overlooking the Gironde. Specifically, the soil consists of fine Günzian gravel blended with clay, limestone, and chalk. This exceptional terroir offers world-class drainage that swiftly removed excess rain during October 1987. As a result, the estate’s deep-rooted Cabernet Sauvignon vines avoided waterlogging.

Meanwhile, Paul Pontallier and his vineyard team performed aggressive leaf-thinning and green harvests. When rains threatened the harvest, the team waited patiently for dry picking windows. Furthermore, the estate rejected over half of the total harvest during sorting. Thus, only pristine, fully developed berries entered the Grand Vin.

Vinification & Craftsmanship

In the winery, Paul Pontallier handled the delicate vintage with surgical precision. First, grape sorting was enforced with legendary severity at the reception tables. Spontaneous fermentation took place in traditional oak vats under strict temperature control.

Subsequently, the wine matured for approximately 18 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Pontallier’s refined oak program provided structural framework without overwhelming the vintage’s delicate fruit. Moreover, the wine was fined with egg whites according to classical estate tradition. Today, decades of aging have resolved the wine into pure ethereal grace.

Tasting Notes

In the glass, the wine presents a translucent garnet hue with delicate brick-amber rims. Immediately, the nose opens with soaring aromas of fresh violets, dried redcurrant, and sandalwood. In addition, complex secondary notes of black tea, cedar, graphite, and truffles unfold with air.

On the palate, the wine glides with weightless, satin-like finesse and supreme elegance. Silky, melted tannins support delicate flavors of red cherry and antique tobacco leaf. Meanwhile, an incisive vein of Margaux acidity preserves freshness and energy. Consequently, the finish persists with lingering floral nuances and crushed limestone minerality.

Technical Specifications

• Producer: Château Margaux
• Winemaker: Paul Pontallier
• Classification: 1er Grand Cru Classé (1855 Classification)
• Appellation: Margaux AOC, Médoc, Bordeaux
• Vintage: 1987
• Varietal Blend: ~75% Cabernet Sauvignon, ~20% Merlot, ~5% Petit Verdot & Cabernet Franc
• Selection Rate: Severe selection (~35%–40% of total harvest retained for Grand Vin)
• Maturation: ~18 months in 100% new French oak barrels
• Alcohol: ~12.5% ABV
• Volume: 750ml

Service & Cellar Potential

Serve this delicate First Growth between 16°C–18°C (60°F–64°F) in large Bordeaux stemware. Specifically, avoid mechanical decanting due to the fragile nature of this mature vintage. Pull the cork 20 to 30 minutes prior to service instead. Therefore, the haunting floral bouquet will blossom gently in the glass.

Pair this wine with roasted squab, milk-fed veal, or delicate game birds. Furthermore, this 1987 vintage is drinking at its absolute tertiary zenith today. As a result, collectors should acquire and enjoy this historic curiosity over the near term.