1951 Wine and Port Vintage
Vintage Summary and Recommendations: The 1951 vintage is generally regarded as one of the weaker years of the early 1950s across most classic European regions. Weather patterns were unsettled, with variable flowering, cooler spells and harvests that often struggled to achieve full ripeness. After several stronger post-war vintages, 1951 produced wines that were typically lighter and less concentrated, and winemakers still had limited technology to compensate.
Overall, 1951 is a vintage more notable for context than for overall quality. Where provenance is excellent, surviving bottles can still carry sentimental or commemorative appeal — and may make a meaningful gift for a birthday or anniversary — often valued more for their history (and, in the Douro, the beauty of the best Colheitas) than for expectations of grandeur.
This Year in History: Fun Fact: The radio series The Archers begins on the BBC Light Programme. It will still be on the air 70 years later.
Born in this Year: Sally Ride, Astronaut, American astronaut and physicist who joined NASA in 1978 and became the first American woman to enter low-Earth orbit. She flew two missions aboard the Challenger shuttle: STS-7 and STS-41-G. At the time of her first spaceflight in 1983, she was the youngest American to enter space.
Top Grossing Movie: Quo Vadis?
Bordeaux: In Bordeaux, 1951 is considered a modest year, with many wines lacking depth and ageing quickly; only a few estates produced bottles of real interest, and even these are now extremely fragile.
Italian: Across Italy, quality was variable and often modest, with few wines showing the depth for extended ageing; both Piedmont and Tuscany tended to produce lighter, earlier-maturing styles.
Portugal:
In the Douro, 1951 was not declared as a Vintage Port year and few classic bottle-matured Ports were made. However — and importantly — several producers made outstanding 1951 Colheitas. These long-aged tawny Ports, matured in cask for decades, can show remarkable complexity, nutty sweetness and elegance when well stored, and they remain some of the most appealing expressions from the vintage.
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6 products found.
Toro Albalá, 1951
Marques De Poley Amontillado, 1951, Montilla-Moriles | 20cl bottle | in luxury gift box
*** 95 Points Robert Parker ***
The 1951 Toro Albala amontillado was born from the best fino wines. After losing the veil of flor which protected it, the long oxidative ageing started, this time, in a static way. Time has transformed it into an exceptional wine of high complexity and elegance. An excellent amontillado valued with 95 Robert Parker points.
Drink from now to 2030+
TASTING NOTES
Sight: Amber with beautiful copper and greenish reflections.
Aroma: Strongly aromatic and complex. Toasted and smoked notes, nuts such as hazelnuts, plum and candied fruit background aromas, together with a subtle memory of its previous biological period. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 37 in Stock
Kopke, 1951
Colheita Port
UK Exclusive
Advance orders for delivery end of March
Exclusive to VWP - Just 24 bottles available for the UK market in 2026 .
The 1951 Kopke Port is a true rarity. Bright amber colour with a complex nose of dried fruits, suggestions of dried figs, nuts, almonds and hazelnuts. A harmonious whole, marked by delicious honey notes and a subtle touch of roasted peanuts. Rich and satin in the taste, reveals an excellent structure and a remarkable unctuosity. A powerful wine but also balanced and elegant with a singular persistent finish.
Colheita, or single harvest ports, are aged in the barrel. Contrast this with vintage ports which are aged in the bottle and only have a short drinking window after opening. …
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Price: £595.00
Stock: 24 in Stock
Delord Freres, 1951
New
1951 Delord Freres Vieil Armagnac
1951 Delord Frères Vieil Armagnac
Distilled in 1951 and patiently matured for decades in oak casks, this Vieil Armagnac from Delord Frères represents a remarkable expression of time, craftsmanship and Gascon tradition. Family-owned since 1893, Delord is renowned for its vintage Armagnacs, and the 1951 stands as a testament to the house’s meticulous ageing and blending expertise.
Tasting Notes:
Deep amber in colour with rich copper highlights, the nose is intensely aromatic and beautifully layered. Notes of dried apricot, fig and orange peel intertwine with toasted almond, walnut and warm baking spice. …
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Price: £845.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Salento, 1951
Bianco, Ruffino, Puglia
1951 Ruffino Bianco (Salento, Puglia)
From the sun-drenched vineyards of southern Italy, this 1951 Bianco from Ruffino represents a rare and fascinating piece of post-war Italian winemaking. Bottles of this age are seldom encountered, offering a unique opportunity to experience the evolution of a historic Puglian white wine.
Tasting Notes:
Now deep golden in colour with amber highlights, reflecting its long bottle age, the nose reveals mature and gently oxidative aromas of dried apple, honey and candied citrus peel, intertwined with notes of almond, chamomile and subtle spice. On the palate it is delicate yet surprisingly persistent, with softened structure and a mellow, rounded texture. …
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Price: £185.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Salento, 1951
Ruffino, Puglia
Sweet fortified wine
Salento is in the region of Puglia on the heel of Italy. The Ruffino is a fortified wine made predominantly from the primitivo grape. The wine has a liquorice and spice bouquet, a full body and a long finish.
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Price: £295.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Salento, 1951
Rosso Vecchio, Ruffino, Puglia
1951 Ruffino Rosso Vecchio (Salento, Puglia)
From the sun-baked vineyards of Puglia comes this wonderfully aged 1951 Rosso Vecchio from Ruffino, a wine that captures over seven decades of maturity with grace and depth. Long cherished by collectors and lovers of mature Italian reds, this Salento classic has evolved into a wine of distinctive character and refined complexity.
Tasting Notes:
Deep brick-garnet in colour with seasoned tawny highlights, the nose opens with beautifully developed aromas of dried cherry, fig and ripe plum, interwoven with notes of leather, tobacco leaf, cedar and a hint of underbrush. …
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Price: £195.00
Stock: 3 in Stock