1971 Wine and Port Vintage
Vintage Summary and Recommendations:
1971 Wine – 55 Year Old Anniversary Wines
Welcome to Vintage Wine & Port’s 1971 wine collection. Widely regarded as a five-star vintage in Piedmont, 1971 produced some of the finest Barolo and Barbaresco wines of the century. With ideal growing conditions and exceptional ripening, the resulting wines have developed remarkable depth, elegance and longevity over more than five decades.
Now at full maturity, the best 1971 wines offer beautifully resolved tannins, complex layers of dried fruit, spice and earth, and a long, refined finish. These characteristics make them an outstanding choice for a 55th anniversary or truly special milestone birthday gift.
While we continue to offer a curated selection from regions such as Portugal and Bordeaux, the true highlight of this vintage lies in Piedmont, where Nebbiolo-based wines stand out for their structure, balance and exceptional ageing potential. Our selection focuses on bottles from trusted producers and well-stored cellars, ensuring each wine is drinking at its best today.
Our Recommended Wines from 1971
Scroll down to explore our full selection. If you would like personal advice, please call us on 01425 837177 or contact us — we would be delighted to help you choose the perfect bottle.
Top Recommendation: 1971 Barolo Cantne Prandi(Piedmont)
From a legendary five-star vintage, this mature Barolo has been acquired directly from Cantine Prandi Cellars and offers exceptional complexity, with notes of dried cherry, truffle, leather and spice. A truly special and age-worthy wine, perfect for a 55th anniversary celebration.
Best Value: 1971 Nebbiolo Scarpa (Piedmont)
Offering the character of the vintage at a more accessible level, mature Nebbiolo delivers elegant notes of dried red fruit, spice and earth with a softer, more approachable structure than Barolo.
Classic Italian Alternative: 1971 Barbaresco Borgogno
Sharing the same exceptional vintage conditions as Barolo, Barbaresco offers a refined and slightly more approachable expression while retaining the hallmark complexity of Piedmont wines.
Rare Fortified Option: Palmer 1971 Colheita Port
A rare and beautifully matured fortified wine, offering rich notes of dried fruit, caramel and spice. With only limited availability, this provides a distinctive and reliable option for those seeking a ready-to-drink 1971 wine.
This Year in History: Fun Facts: The United Kingdom became the sixth nation successfully to launch a satellite into orbit using its own launch vehicle, the Prospero (X-3) experimental communications satellite (built at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough), using a Black Arrow carrier rocket from Woomera Launch Area 5 in South Australia.
Eurovision Winner: Monaco with the song "Un Banc, Un Arbre, Une Rue" by Severine
Top Grossing Movie: Diamonds Are Forever
Bordeaux: 1971 was a very good wine vintage, whose only failing was to be overshadowed by the outstanding 1970 vintage. The crop size of the 1971 vintage was very small making wines of this year a rarity. Well-stored examples of wine are likely to remain mature for a few more years. Sweet wines such as Sauternes and Barsac were outstanding in this year and will last for many decades to come.
Italian: Considered to be one of the greatest vintages of the 20th century for Italian wine, excellent growing conditions during 1971 produced a small crop of rich, full bodied wines that have aged gracefully and will last for many years. These wines would make an excellent wine gift for a birthday or anniversary. In Piedmont, Barolo and Barbaresco are outstanding with a high level of consistency. In Tuscany, the best results were in Chianti where this year was officially rated a 5-star vintage. Many of the wines have shown exceptional ageing qualities. It was also a good vintage for Brunello.
102 products found.
Barbera, 1971
Bersano
Magnum Bottle (149cl)
This Barbera displays a rich garnet colour with warm brick highlights. The nose offers dried red cherries, plum, and soft spice, complemented by subtle leather and earthy undertones. On the palate, it is smooth and medium-bodied, with gentle tannins carrying flavours of stewed fruit and a hint of cocoa, finishing long and balanced.
Decanting: Stand upright for 2–3 days to allow sediment to settle. Decant carefully through a fine strainer and aerate 1–2 hours before serving at 16–18°C. Fragile corks are common; strain any fragments during decanting.
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barbera, 1971
Luigi Rizzo
This Barbera shows a deep garnet colour with subtle brick-orange highlights. The nose is aromatic with dried cherries, plum, and hints of sweet spice, accompanied by soft leather notes. The palate is smooth and approachable, with gentle tannins and flavours of stewed red fruits and a touch of earthiness, finishing elegant and balanced.
Decanting: Stand upright for 2–3 days to allow sediment to settle. Decant slowly through a fine strainer and aerate 1–2 hours before serving at 16–18°C. Fragile corks are common; strain any fragments during decanting.
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Price: £79.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Barbera, 1971
Bersano
Was £79.95
Clearance Offer | Damaged Label £35
This Barbera displays a rich garnet colour with warm brick highlights. The nose offers dried red cherries, plum, and soft spice, complemented by subtle leather and earthy undertones. On the palate, it is smooth and medium-bodied, with gentle tannins carrying flavours of stewed fruit and a hint of cocoa, finishing long and balanced.
Decanting: Stand upright for 2–3 days to allow sediment to settle. Decant carefully through a fine strainer and aerate 1–2 hours before serving at 16–18°C. Fragile corks are common; strain any fragments during decanting.
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Price: £35.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barbera d'Asti, 1971
Contratto, Barbera, Piedmonte
1971 Barbera d’Asti – Contratto
The 1971 vintage is regarded as one of the classic post-war years in Piedmont, producing wines of balance, structure and notable longevity. From the historic house of Contratto, founded in 1867 and long associated with traditional regional winemaking, this Barbera d’Asti reflects an era when wines were crafted with freshness and ageing potential in mind.
Tasting Notes:
Now displaying a mature brick-red hue with garnet reflections at the rim, the nose is expressive and gently evolved. Aromas of dried cherry, plum and redcurrant are layered with notes of leather, dried herbs and subtle spice. …
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Price: £75.00
Stock: 5 in Stock
Barbera d'Asti, 1971
Bersano - Half Litre Bottle (50cl)
This Barbera d’Asti shows a deep garnet colour with brick-orange highlights. The nose opens with dried cherries, plum, and soft spice, complemented by subtle leather and earthy notes. On the palate, it is smooth and medium-bodied, with gentle tannins and flavours of stewed red fruits, finishing long, balanced, and approachable.
Decanting: Stand upright for 2–3 days to allow sediment to settle. Decant slowly through a fine strainer and aerate 1–2 hours before serving at 16–18°C. Fragile corks are common; strain any fragments during decanting.
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Price: £39.00
Stock: 4 in Stock
Barbera del Monferrato, 1971
Cantine F. Vernetti Clearance Offer | Was £59 | Now £45
This Barbera del Monferrato shows a deep garnet-red colour with brick-orange highlights. The nose offers aromas of dried cherries, plum, and soft spice, with subtle leather and earthy undertones. On the palate, it is smooth and medium-bodied, with gentle tannins carrying flavours of stewed red fruits and a hint of cocoa, finishing long and harmonious.
Decanting: Stand upright for 2–3 days to allow sediment to settle. Decant carefully through a fine strainer and aerate 1–2 hours before serving at 16–18°C. Fragile corks are common; strain any fragments during decanting.
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Price: £45.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Barolo, 1971
Prandi
This Barolo displays a garnet-red colour with brick-orange highlights, reflecting its age gracefully. The nose offers dried red cherries, rose petal, gentle spice, and hints of leather and forest floor. On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, with refined tannins supporting flavours of stewed cherries, subtle truffle, and earthy undertones, finishing long, structured, and elegant.
Decanting: Stand upright for 2–3 days to allow sediment to settle. Decant carefully through a fine strainer and aerate 1–2 hours before serving at 16–18°C. Fragile corks are common; strain any fragments during decanting. …
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Price: £189.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Barolo, 1971
Giacomo Borgogno - Riserva
This Barolo Riserva shows a deep garnet colour with warm brick-orange highlights. The nose offers dried cherries, rose, gentle spice, and subtle notes of leather and tobacco. On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, with refined, silky tannins supporting flavours of stewed red fruits, hints of truffle, and earthy undertones, finishing long, elegant, and structured.
Decanting: Stand upright for 2–3 days to allow sediment to settle. Decant slowly through a fine strainer and aerate 1–2 hours before serving at 16–18°C. Fragile corks are common; strain any fragments during decanting.
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Price: £289.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Barolo, 1971
Paolo Gaggino
This Barolo displays a garnet-red colour with brick-orange highlights. The nose opens with dried cherries, rose petal, and gentle spice, complemented by subtle leather and earthy hints. On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, with soft, refined tannins and flavours of stewed red fruits, hints of cocoa, and a touch of truffle, finishing long, elegant, and harmonious.
Decanting: Stand upright for 2–3 days to allow sediment to settle. Decant carefully through a fine strainer and aerate 1–2 hours before serving at 16–18°C. Fragile corks are common; strain any fragments during decanting.
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Price: £159.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barolo, 1971
Giordano - Riserva, Barolo, Piedmont
This Barolo Riserva shows a garnet-red colour with brick-orange highlights. The nose opens with dried red cherries, rose petal, gentle spice, and hints of leather and forest floor. On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, with refined tannins supporting flavours of stewed cherries, subtle truffle, and earthy undertones, finishing long, structured, and elegant.
Decanting: Stand upright for 2–3 days to allow sediment to settle. Decant carefully through a fine strainer and aerate 1–2 hours before serving at 16–18°C. Fragile corks are common; strain any fragments during decanting.
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Price: £149.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barolo, 1971
Kiola, Barolo, Piedmont
This Barolo displays a deep garnet-red colour with brick-orange highlights. The nose offers dried cherries, rose, gentle spice, and subtle hints of leather and earthy forest notes. On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, with refined tannins carrying flavours of stewed red fruits, hints of truffle, and a touch of cocoa, finishing long, elegant, and balanced.
Decanting: Stand upright for 2–3 days to allow sediment to settle. Decant carefully through a fine strainer and aerate 1–2 hours before serving at 16–18°C. Fragile corks are common; strain any fragments during decanting.
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Price: £139.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barolo, 1971
Cav. Ceste
Vintage & Background
The 1971 vintage in Piedmont is widely regarded as one of the great post-war years for Barolo, producing wines of remarkable structure, perfume, and longevity. A small crop and ideal late-season conditions allowed Nebbiolo to ripen beautifully, giving wines with exceptional ageing potential. Cav Ceste’s 1971 Barolo now offers a rare opportunity to experience a mature expression from this celebrated vintage, showing the classical depth and elegance for which old Barolo is revered.
Appearance & Nose
The colour has evolved to a luminous garnet with amber-brick reflections at the rim, a hallmark of mature Nebbiolo. …
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Price: £159.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barolo, 1971
Cà Rossa - Giuseppe Ravinale
Was £169
Clearance Offer | Damaged Label £119
1971 Ca’ Rossa Barolo
Overview:
A beautifully mature expression of traditional Piedmontese winemaking, the 1971 Ca’ Rossa Barolo reflects one of the region’s most respected classic vintages. Now fully evolved, it offers the haunting tertiary complexity, savoury depth and quiet elegance that make mature Barolo such a compelling experience for collectors and lovers of old Nebbiolo.
Appearance:
Pale garnet with pronounced brick-orange evolution at the rim, showing the graceful maturity characteristic of long-aged traditional Barolo. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barolo, 1971
Francone - Riserva
The Barolo DOC 1971 Francone Riserva is a rare historic red wine from the Langhe region in Piedmont, Italy. Produced by Francone, it is made from 100% Nebbiolo grapes and reflects the traditional Barolo style of the early 1970s: structured, austere in youth, and built for very long bottle aging with slow evolution into complex tertiary aromas.
Tasting notes:
The 1971 vintage is now fully mature and deeply tertiary. The nose opens with aromas of dried rose petals, sour cherry, dried plum, leather, tobacco leaf, forest floor, and truffle-like earthy notes. With aeration, additional layers of dried herbs, spice, cedarwood, and balsamic nuances emerge. …
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Price: £149.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Bonarda, 1971
Berteletti
Bonarda 1971 Berteletti is a red wine from Lombardy, Italy, produced by Berteletti, a winery known for crafting expressive wines from the traditional Bonarda grape. This 1971 vintage showcases the varietal’s classic charm, with soft fruit character, gentle tannins, and subtle tertiary complexity developed over decades of careful aging.
Tasting Notes:
The wine displays a garnet-red color with brick-orange highlights at the rim, characteristic of a mature Bonarda. The bouquet is nuanced and layered, featuring aromas of dried red cherries, plums, and hints of wild berries, complemented by tertiary notes of leather, soft spice, and earthy undertones. …
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Price: £39.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Bonarda, 1971
La Vigna - Stradella
This Bonarda shows a deep ruby-red colour with garnet highlights. The nose opens with aromas of dried black cherries, plum, and soft spice, complemented by subtle earthy and leather notes. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and smooth, with gentle tannins supporting flavours of stewed dark fruits and a hint of cocoa, finishing balanced, approachable, and lingering.
Decanting: Stand upright for 2–3 days to allow sediment to settle. Decant slowly through a fine strainer and aerate 1–2 hours before serving at 16–18°C. Fragile corks are common; strain any fragments during decanting.
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Price: £59.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Bordeaux, 1971
Chateau de Preignes
Bordeaux, in the south-west of France, needs little introduction to anyone with an interest in wine. One of the world's most prolific wine regions, it also manages to rank among the most famous and prestigious. The secrets of Bordeaux's wine success (other than magical Bordeaux Blend) are its three trump cards: diversity, quality and quantity. The majority of Bordeaux wines are the dry, medium-bodied reds that made the region famous.
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Brachetto, 1971
Marchesi di Barolo
Vintage & Background
The 1971 vintage in Piedmont is remembered as an excellent year, producing wines of notable character and longevity. Marchesi di Barolo is one of the region’s historic and most respected houses, and this mature Brachetto offers a rare glimpse into the evolution of a classic aromatic Piedmontese red. Originally crafted in a sweeter, fruit-driven style, over five decades of bottle age have transformed it into a beautifully nuanced and evocative wine with remarkable tertiary complexity.
Appearance & Nose
The colour has evolved to a delicate garnet with amber-brick tones at the rim, showing clear signs of graceful maturity. …
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Bramaterra, 1971
Berteletti
Produced mainly with Nebbiolo grapes cultivated on the slopes of Monte Rosa, west of Gattinara, of medium aging, 2 years minimum, it comes from a knowledgeable use of aging wood. Of ruby color, complex scents of mature fruit and spices, fresh and austere body. It's suited for a medium/long aging.
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Price: £89.00
Stock: 4 in Stock
Bricco del Drago, 1971
Cascina Drago
The Bricco del Drago DOC 1971 Cascina Drago is a historic red wine from Piedmont, Italy. Produced by Cascina Drago, this wine reflects the traditional Piedmontese style of the early 1970s: structured, earthy, and deeply connected to regional grape-growing traditions. Wines from this period were typically crafted with an emphasis on longevity, food compatibility, and expression of local terroir rather than modern extraction or heavy oak influence.
Tasting notes:
The 1971 vintage is now fully mature and showing advanced tertiary development. The nose opens with aromas of dried cherry, stewed plum, leather, tobacco, dried rose petals, forest floor, and earthy spice. …
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Price: £59.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Brunello di Montalcino, 1971
Silvio Nardi
Brunello de Montalcino is one of Italys most famous and most expensive red wines. It is produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montalcino located about 70 miles (110 km) southwest of Florence in the Tuscany wine region. Brunello, roughly translated as "nice dark one" is the unofficial name of the clone of Sangiovese used in production.
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Price: £169.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Cabernet, 1971
S. Margherita
Very forward nose of leather and cherries, liquorice wild strawberries, ripe plums and pencil .The palate is very nice balance of sweet fruit and acidity.
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Cannonau Di Sardegna, 1971
Riforma Agraria
The Cannonau (also known as Cannonao, Cannonadu or Canunau) is the most popular wine from the island of Sardinia. It's mostly produced in the centre of Sardinia, even if we can find production of this famous wine in all the island. The grapes used for this Sardinian wine is the Cannonau. (At least 90 % of this grapes has to be used to be certified as original Cannonau). Cannonau is a very "strong wine" so it should be used with elaborate red meat and some types of cheese.
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Capo Ferrato, 1971
Riforma Agraria Castiadas
Red cherry red with ruby highlights. Fine and intense nose, with floral and fruity scents. The flavour is dry, fine and fruity with high acidity and a slight almond aftertaste.
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Castello di Montello, 1971
F.lli Polegato
A cabernet, merlot blend from the Veneto region of Italy. made in a similar style to Right bank Bordeauxs.
Appearance
Deep ruby, shading towards garnet with age. Good viscosity in the glass.
Nose
Expressive and layered. Ripe blackcurrant, dark cherry and plum form the core, followed by cedarwood, tobacco leaf and a touch of graphite. With air, dried herbs and a faint balsamic nuance emerge.
Palate
Medium to full-bodied. Structured and classically styled. Firm but refined tannins support flavours of cassis, black cherry and blackberry. Oak influence shows as vanilla, spice and a light toastiness, but remains well integrated. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 1 in Stock