1981 Wine and Port Vintage
Vintage Summary and Recommendations:
Welcome to Vintage Wine and Port's 1981 wine page. Read on for our summary of the 1981 vintage, our top recommendations and region reports. Scroll down to see all of our wines currently available. If you cannot find what you are looking for please call us on 01425 837177 or Contact Us. We would love to help you with your wine choice!
The 1981 vintage ranged in quality, with many regions producing excellent wines, but few stood out as truly exceptional. In France, Bordeaux, Beaujolais, Loire, Alsace and the Rhône Valley all enjoyed good years but the vintage for Sauternes and Champagne was lackluster and poor for Burgundy. The rest of Europe was also a mixed bag, with Piedmont suffering a particularly bad year while Tuscany excelled. Spain, Germany and Austria all enjoyed good but not great years and both Port and Tokaj produced some nice wines. Any of these wines would make a fabulous 45 year old wine gift for an Anniversary or birthday.
Our Wine Expert currently recommends the following wines for this year:
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Bordeaux: 1981 was a very good vintage for Bordeaux wines that was overlooked in favour of the outstanding 1982 Vinatge. Although July was cool, the fruit ripened well through a warm and dry August and September. The harvest began under good conditions in the very last days of September but was hampered by rain in the first two weeks of October, leading to a dilution of the grape juice. Nevertheless, reliable chateaux still managed to fashion some stylish, classic wines, with medium body and good structure.
Italian: The good 1981 Italian vintage produced a large crop of consistent wines. The best examples from Tuscany and Piedmont are now at their peak of their maturity, and will offer a good drinking experience.
Portugal: No vintage port was made in 1981. Our recommendation would be for a 1981 Colheita port from 1981. Kopke are renowned for their colheita and this would make a wonderful gift for a Birthday or Anniversary this year.
42 products found.
Brunello di Montalcino, 1981
Orazio Bagnasco
Brunello di Montalcino 1981 – Orazio Bagnasco
The 1981 Brunello di Montalcino from Orazio Bagnasco is a beautifully mature and traditional expression of Sangiovese, offering elegance, complexity and gentle power after decades of ageing. The colour shows a soft garnet core with brick-orange hues at the rim, highlighting its graceful evolution.
On the nose, the wine is deeply aromatic and layered. Dried cherry, red plum and cranberry are supported by notes of leather, tobacco, forest floor and dried herbs. Subtle hints of balsamic, cedar, orange peel and gentle spice add further refinement and depth. …
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Price: £129.00
Stock: 7 in Stock
Brunello di Montalcino, 1981
Argiano
Brunello di Montalcino 1981 – Argiano
The 1981 Brunello di Montalcino from Argiano is a classic, traditionally styled wine that now shows the full beauty of long ageing. The colour has softened to a translucent garnet with brick-orange highlights at the rim, reflecting its graceful maturity.
The nose is complex and elegant, offering aromas of dried cherry, redcurrant and plum, layered with leather, tobacco, forest floor and dried Mediterranean herbs. Subtle notes of balsamic, orange peel, cedar and gentle spice add further depth and refinement.
On the palate, the wine is smooth, poised and beautifully balanced. …
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Price: £169.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Chateau Beychevelle, 1981
St Julien 4me cru classe
The 1981 Château Beychevelle is a beautifully mature Saint-Julien, offering the elegance and classic balance for which the estate is known. In the glass, it shows a soft garnet-brick colour with a fading rim, reflecting over four decades of gentle evolution.
The nose is refined and inviting, with aromas of dried redcurrant, cedar, tobacco leaf, and a touch of graphite. As it opens, notes of leather, dried herbs, and subtle forest floor nuances emerge—hallmarks of well-aged Left Bank claret.
On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied and harmonious, with fully resolved tannins and a silky, mellow texture. …
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Price: £129.00
Stock: 11 in Stock
Chateau Branaire-Ducru, 1981
St Julien, 4th Growth Classification
The 1981 Branaire is quite forward, precociously supple, and fruity. The bouquet is showing expansive, complex, chocolatey, cedary components.
About Chateau Branaire Ducru Château Branaire-Ducru is a renowned wine estate located in the Saint-Julien appellation of the Bordeaux region in France. It is classified as a Fourth Growth (Quatrième Grand Cru Classé) in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, which highlights its longstanding reputation for quality. The estate spans approximately 60 hectares of vineyards, planted mainly with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 8 in Stock
Chateau Cos d'Estournel, 1981
St Estephe, 2nd Growth Classification
The 1981 Cos d'Estournel is a deep ruby colour, with a spicy, rich, briery, tightly knit bouquet, this wine is deeper and more promising than the 1983, but relatively light, compact, and lean.
Château Cos d'Estournel is a prestigious wine estate located in the Saint-Estèphe appellation of Bordeaux, France. Established in the early 19th century by Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel, the estate is renowned for its grand architectural style, including the iconic pagodas that distinguish its winery. Covering approximately 100 hectares, the vineyard benefits from a unique terroir of gravel and clay soils, ideal for cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. …
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Price: £129.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Croizet Bages, 1981
Pauillac 5th Growth Classification
Château Croizet-Bages, a fifth-growth estate in Bordeaux's Pauillac appellation, has a history dating back to the 18th century. The 1981 vintage, while not among the most celebrated years in Bordeaux, offers a unique opportunity to experience a mature expression of this estate's wine.
Specific tasting notes for the 1981 Château Croizet-Bages are limited, reflecting the vintage's modest reputation. However, given the wine's age, it's likely to exhibit tertiary aromas such as leather, tobacco, and earthy notes, with softened tannins and a harmonious palate. It's important to note that individual bottle conditions can vary, especially with wines of this age. …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: 10 in Stock
Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou, 1981
St Julien, 2eme Growth Classification
The 1981 Ducru Beaucailiou has a very intense red; nose of berries, nice claret bouquet; good fruit on the palate, broad; initially quite green - not a great vintage but quite acceptable.
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, located in the renowned Saint-Julien appellation of Bordeaux, France, is an iconic estate celebrated for its exceptional wines and illustrious history. Dating back to the 18th century, this historic property has been meticulously tended by generations of the Borie family, who have upheld a tradition of excellence in winemaking. Situated on gravelly soils along the Gironde River, …
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Price: £149.00
Stock: 4 in Stock
Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou, 1981
St Julien, 2eme Growth Classification
Clearance Offer | Heavily Bin Soiled Label
Was £149 | Now £129
The 1981 Ducru Beaucailiou has a very intense red; nose of berries, nice claret bouquet; good fruit on the palate, broad; initially quite green - not a great vintage but quite acceptable.
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, located in the renowned Saint-Julien appellation of Bordeaux, France, is an iconic estate celebrated for its exceptional wines and illustrious history. Dating back to the 18th century, this historic property has been meticulously tended by generations of the Borie family, who have upheld a tradition of excellence in winemaking. Situated on gravelly soils along the Gironde River, …
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Price: £129.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Gazin, 1981
Graves, Bordeaux
The 1981 Château Gazin (Graves) is a rare mature Bordeaux from the historic Graves region, offering a fascinating glimpse into the traditional winemaking styles of the early 1980s. After more than four decades of bottle ageing, the wine has developed the complexity and tertiary character that make mature Bordeaux so rewarding for collectors and enthusiasts alike. Bottles of this age are increasingly scarce and provide a unique opportunity to experience the evolution of classic Graves.
Château Gazin (Graves) is a traditional Bordeaux estate situated within one of the region's oldest and most respected appellations. …
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Price: £69.95
Stock: 12 in Stock
Château La Dominique, 1981
Saint-Emilion- Grand Cru Classe
Château La Dominique 1981 – Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé
The 1981 vintage in Saint-Émilion produced wines of finesse and balance rather than power, and Château La Dominique has evolved into a beautifully resolved and elegant mature Bordeaux.
In the glass, it displays a soft garnet core with amber tones at the rim, reflecting its long and graceful ageing. The bouquet is complex and refined, with aromas of dried red fruits, stewed plum, cedar, tobacco leaf, and subtle notes of leather and forest floor.
The palate is fully mature and harmonious, showing silky tannins and a gently rounded structure. …
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Price: £69.95
Stock: 9 in Stock
Chateau La Mission Haut Brion, 1981
Pessac Leognan Cru Classe
1981 Château La Mission Haut-Brion offers a beautifully classical expression of mature Graves from a more understated, old-school Bordeaux vintage. Now over forty years in bottle, it has moved into a fully evolved phase where complexity, savoury depth and refinement take precedence over power, showing the estate’s hallmark gravelly elegance.
In the glass, it displays a brick-garnet core with a wide, amber-tinted rim. The nose is refined and deeply tertiary: dried redcurrant and soft cassis mingle with cedar, cigar box, pipe tobacco and cool earth. Signature smoky, mineral notes of warm stones and faint embers drift through the bouquet, …
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Price: £245.00
Stock: 5 in Stock
Chateau Leoville Las Cases, 1981
St Julien 2eme Cru Classe
The 1981 Château Léoville Las Cases is a beautifully mature Saint-Julien that showcases the estate’s trademark precision, classical structure, and quiet power even in a more understated vintage. In the glass, it reveals a deep garnet core fading to brick at the rim, reflecting its graceful evolution over more than four decades.
The nose is refined and complex, offering aromas of dried blackcurrant, cedar, graphite, and tobacco leaf—classic Las Cases character. With time, subtler notes of old leather, violets, forest floor, and warm spices emerge, adding depth and a sense of dignified maturity. …
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Price: £149.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Chateau Leoville Poyferre, 1981
St Julien 2me Growth Classification
A deep tawny rim with a mahogany core. This has a delightful nose, very good intensity with notes of cooked meats, roasted chestnut, toffee and a touch of marzipan. It smells as if it is from a hot vintage! After five minutes in the glass, it become a little muffled but develops a touch of mint. The palate certainly has more fruit concentration than the 1980, a rounded texture, quite sharp acidity with notes of sour cherry, a touch of leather and a dry, rather gamey, but attenuated finish. Not bad for a 1981.
Château Léoville Poyferré is a prestigious wine estate located in the Saint-Julien appellation of Bordeaux, France. …
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Price: £165.00
Stock: 6 in Stock
Chianti, 1981
Fattoria Pieve a Pitiana
Chianti, situated in Tuscany in central Italy, is home to probably the best-known and most iconic of all Italian wines. Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are primarily made with Sangiovese grape whereas the Vernaccia grape is the basis of the white Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
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Price: £79.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Chianti, 1981
Poliziano
Chianti, situated in Tuscany in central Italy, is home to probably the best-known and most iconic of all Italian wines. Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are primarily made with Sangiovese grape whereas the Vernaccia grape is the basis of the white Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chianti Classico, 1981
Pian d'Albola
Magnum Bottle (150cl)
Tuscan wine (Italian Toscana) is Italian wine from the Tuscany region. Located in central Italy along the Tyrrhenian coast, Tuscany is home to some of the world's most notable wine regions. Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino and Vino Nobile di Montepulciano are primarily made with Sangiovese grape whereas the Vernaccia grape is the basis of the white Vernaccia di San Gimignano.
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Price: £129.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Clos du Clocher, 1981
Pomerol
Magnum Bottle
The 1981 Clos du Clocher Magnum is a rare and increasingly scarce example of mature Pomerol from one of the appellation's most respected family-owned estates. Produced on the celebrated clay and gravel soils of the Pomerol plateau, Clos du Clocher has long been recognised for crafting wines that combine the richness of Merlot with the structure and aromatic complexity of Cabernet Franc. The large-format magnum bottle has helped preserve the wine's freshness and longevity, allowing it to age more gracefully than standard bottles.
Founded by the Audy family in the 1920s, Clos du Clocher occupies a privileged position close to some of Pomerol's most famous vineyards. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 12 in Stock
Dolcetto, 1981
Marchesi di Barolo
Dolcetto 1981 Marchesi di Barolo is a traditional red wine from Piedmont, Italy, made entirely from Dolcetto grapes. The 1981 vintage from Marchesi di Barolo captures the varietal’s hallmark freshness and approachable style, now enriched by decades of bottle aging. This wine offers a rare glimpse into how Dolcetto can evolve gracefully, developing subtle tertiary notes while maintaining balance and elegance.
Tasting Notes:
In the glass, it displays a garnet color with soft brick-orange highlights at the rim. The nose reveals aromas of dried cherries, plums, and lightly stewed berries, layered with tertiary hints of leather, tobacco, and forest floor. …
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Price: £59.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
D'Oliveiras Madeira, 1981
Sercial Madeira
Raisins, plums, walnuts and a hint of prunes in this wonderful Madeira. The scent fills the room as soon as it is open. Pouring it into the glass you notice the crystal clear golden brown color with hints of red. You swirl and smell, noticing the raisins and the walnuts. You take a sip, the flavors of raisins and plums fills the front of your mouth, not too sweet. You swish and swallow, the walnuts taking over in the back of the mouth. The taste lingers…
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Price: £159.00
Stock: 8 in Stock
Montepulciano, 1981
d'Abruzzo, Valle d'Oro Tollo
A Mature Classic from Abruzzo
The 1981 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Valle d'Oro Tollo offers a rare glimpse into the age-worthy potential of one of Italy’s most beloved regional reds. Valle d'Oro, produced by the cooperative winery Tollo, is known for showcasing Montepulciano’s robust fruit and approachable style, while still emphasizing balance and authenticity. This bottle represents a traditional expression from a time when Abruzzo wines were primarily enjoyed young but occasionally crafted to age gracefully.
A Vintage of Brightness and Elegance
The 1981 vintage in central Italy was marked by moderate temperatures and a balanced growing season, resulting in wines with bright acidity, moderate alcohol, and well-defined fruit. …
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Price: £79.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Montepulciano, 1981
New
d'Abbruzo, Dragani - Riserva
Double Magnum Bottle (300cl)
Montepulciano is a red wine grape variety grown widely in central Italy, most notably its eastern Abruzzo, Marche and Molise regions. The variety was named after the Tuscan parish of Montepulciano, but, confusingly, is not used in the famous wines produced there (see Vino Nobile di Montepulciano). Globally appreciated for their soft flavors, strong color and gentle tannins, Montepulciano wines are typically best consumed in their youth and with food. The deep-purple juice of Montepulciano grapes is used in varying proportions to produce wines under roughly 50 of Italy's DOC and DOCG titles. Although sometimes used on its own, …
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Price: £195.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Nobile di Montepulciano, 1981
Villa Argiano
Nobile di Montepulciano is a red wine with a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita status produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montepulciano, Italy. The wine is made primarily from the Sangiovese grape varietal (known locally as Prugnolo gentile) (minimum 70%), blended with Canaiolo Nero (10%–20%) and small amounts of other local varieties such as Mammolo. The wine is aged for 2 years (at least 1 year in oak barrels); three years if it is a riserva.
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Price: £79.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Nobile di Montepulciano, 1981
Avignonesi
Clearance Offer – Last Bottle Was £89 Now £35
Nobile di Montepulciano is a red wine with a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita status produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montepulciano, Italy. The wine is made primarily from the Sangiovese grape varietal (known locally as Prugnolo gentile) (minimum 70%), blended with Canaiolo Nero (10%–20%) and small amounts of other local varieties such as Mammolo. The wine is aged for 2 years (at least 1 year in oak barrels); three years if it is a riserva.
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Price: £35.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Nobile di Montepulciano, 1981
Fanetti - Riserva
Nobile di Montepulciano is a red wine with a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita status produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montepulciano, Italy. The wine is made primarily from the Sangiovese grape varietal (known locally as Prugnolo gentile) (minimum 70%), blended with Canaiolo Nero (10%–20%) and small amounts of other local varieties such as Mammolo. The wine is aged for 2 years (at least 1 year in oak barrels); three years if it is a riserva.
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Price: £79.00
Stock: 15 in Stock
Nobile di Montepulciano, 1981
Cantucci
Nobile di Montepulciano is a red wine with a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita status produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montepulciano, Italy. The wine is made primarily from the Sangiovese grape varietal (known locally as Prugnolo gentile) (minimum 70%), blended with Canaiolo Nero (10%–20%) and small amounts of other local varieties such as Mammolo. The wine is aged for 2 years (at least 1 year in oak barrels); three years if it is a riserva.
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Price: £49.00
Stock: 4 in Stock