1961 Wine and Port Vintage
Vintage Summary and Recommendations: Welcome to Vintage Wine and Port's 1961 wine page. Read on for our summary of the 1961 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 1961 vintage enjoyed some extraordinary moments, particularly in France. For Bordeaux, the vintage was legendary with great wines produced in Pessac-Léognan, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Pomerol and – although less uniform – Margaux. However, as is often the case when conditions are ripe for perfect Bordeaux, the year was not so conducive for the sweet wines of Sauternes, and they tended to be more of a mixed bag. The year was also excellent for both Burgundy and Beaujolais, as well as Champagne, the Rhône and the Loire Valley. Although information is limited for Alsace, what does exist suggests it was very good. Outside of France, the vintages for both Piedmont and Tuscany were excellent and the best Barolo should still be drinking well now.
Our Wine Expert currently recommends the following wines for this year:
This Year in History: Fun Fact: The farthing coin, used since the thirteenth century, ceases to be legal tender in the United Kingdom.
Eurovision Winner: Luxembourg with the song "Nous Les Amoureux"
Top Grossing Movie: 101 Dalmations
Bordeaux: This is one of the legendary vintages of the century. Although most of the 1961 wines are now fading slowly, the top examples continue to shine through offering concentrated, ripe fruit with amazing bouquets. The crop was tiny and there are very few examples available. Provided the bottles have been stored correctly these wines should last for another few years.
Italian: In Italy, 1961 is considered to be one of the greatest vintages of the 20th century. The wines from Piedmont (Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera) and Tuscany (Chianti, Brunello) are outstanding. Now fully mature these wines, with careful cellaring, will still keep for many years to come.
Portugal: While not generally a declared year, the hot weather produced some concentrated ports in 1961. The harvest started in extremely hot conditions at the river quinta in early September, progressing in other areas until the end of the month making it a long, drawn out vintage. The picking required a very rigorous selection which entailed picking out the burnt and imperfect grapes from the bunches before putting them in the baskets. This led to a small harvest, making bottles from this year quite rare. Making a great wine gift for any birthday or anniversary, the 1961 ports produced are still drinking well today.
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43 products found.
Barbaresco, 1961
Enrico Serafino
Barbaresco is one of the great wines of Italy's north-western Piedmont region. This aristocratic red has its vineyards situated in the Langhe, on the right-hand side of the Tanaro river and extending from the area north-east of Alba to the communes of Barbaresco, Nieve and Treiso. The dominant variety grown is Nebbiolo, but Dolcetto and Barbera also play a part. The vines are generally grown on limestone-rich marl soils. similar to the Tortonium soils of the Barolo and La Morra areas in Barolo. Similar to its more famous sibling Barolo, Barbaresco is made from 100% Nebbiolo and shares its cult status as one of the finest wines in the world. …
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Price: $255.83 USD
Stock: 2 in Stock
Barolo, 1961
Pio Cesare
Barolo is known as the 'king of wines' and is made from the Nebbiolo grape. Heady aromas of rose, leather, vanilla, cherry, pepper, cranberry, strawberry. Fruits are perfectly knitted with the tannins and acidity. It's a powerful wine but remarkably subtle. Don't underestimate it and certainly serve it with food to show at it's best. Nebbiolo has naturally high tannins and acidity, so it will take on full-flavoured, rich foods no problem at all.
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Price: $287.31 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barolo, 1961
Giovanni Pippione
Barolo is known as the 'king of wines' and is made from the Nebbiolo grape. Heady aromas of rose, leather, vanilla, cherry, pepper, cranberry, strawberry. Fruits are perfectly knitted with the tannins and acidity. It's a powerful wine but remarkably subtle. Don't underestimate it and certainly serve it with food to show at it's best. Nebbiolo has naturally high tannins and acidity, so it will take on full-flavoured, rich foods no problem at all.
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Price: $339.79 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barolo, 1961
Enrico Serafino Riserva
Barolo is known as the 'king of wines' and is made from the Nebbiolo grape. Heady aromas of rose, leather, vanilla, cherry, pepper, cranberry, strawberry. Fruits are perfectly knitted with the tannins and acidity. It's a powerful wine but remarkably subtle. Don't underestimate it and certainly serve it with food to show at it's best. Nebbiolo has naturally high tannins and acidity, so it will take on full-flavoured, rich foods no problem at all.
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Price: $208.60 USD
Stock: 2 in Stock
Barolo, 1961
Enrico Serafino
Barolo is known as the 'king of wines' and is made from the Nebbiolo grape. Heady aromas of rose, leather, vanilla, cherry, pepper, cranberry, strawberry. Fruits are perfectly knitted with the tannins and acidity. It's a powerful wine but remarkably subtle. Don't underestimate it and certainly serve it with food to show at it's best. Nebbiolo has naturally high tannins and acidity, so it will take on full-flavoured, rich foods no problem at all.
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Price: $169.24 USD
Stock: 2 in Stock
Barolo, 1961
Giovanni Scanavino - Riserva Speciale
Barolo is known as the 'king of wines' and is made from the Nebbiolo grape. Heady aromas of rose, leather, vanilla, cherry, pepper, cranberry, strawberry. Fruits are perfectly knitted with the tannins and acidity. It's a powerful wine but remarkably subtle. Don't underestimate it and certainly serve it with food to show at it's best. Nebbiolo has naturally high tannins and acidity, so it will take on full-flavoured, rich foods no problem at all.
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Price: $208.60 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Canon, 1961
St Emilion
Upper Shoulder
One of the greatest vintages of the post-war period. This exceptional vintage has the peculiarity of producing a tiny crop of exceptional quality. Indeed, after spring frosts which cut the burden of the grapes by half, grapes of a perfect maturity and exceptional concentration are harvested in a hot and sunny climate.
Clean, brilliant deep ruby-brick with orange rim. Initial nose showed pleasant, complex cedar, plum, violets and leather, with addition of slight cigar box. palate concurrently shows more plummy fruit. The wine is full-bodied, with ample supple tannins and an extremely long …
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Price: $852.76 USD
Stock: 2 in Stock
Chateau Canon, 1961
St Emilion
Very Top Shoulder
One of the greatest vintages of the post-war period. This exceptional vintage has the peculiarity of producing a tiny crop of exceptional quality. Indeed, after spring frosts which cut the burden of the grapes by half, grapes of a perfect maturity and exceptional concentration are harvested in a hot and sunny climate.
Clean, brilliant deep ruby-brick with orange rim. Initial nose showed pleasant, complex cedar, plum, violets and leather, with addition of slight cigar box. palate concurrently shows more plummy fruit. The wine is full-bodied, with ample supple tannins and an extremely long …
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Price: $983.95 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Canon, 1961
St Emilion
High Shoulder
One of the greatest vintages of the post-war period. This exceptional vintage has the peculiarity of producing a tiny crop of exceptional quality. Indeed, after spring frosts which cut the burden of the grapes by half, grapes of a perfect maturity and exceptional concentration are harvested in a hot and sunny climate.
Clean, brilliant deep ruby-brick with orange rim. Initial nose showed pleasant, complex cedar, plum, violets and leather, with addition of slight cigar box. palate concurrently shows more plummy fruit. The wine is full-bodied, with ample supple tannins and an extremely long …
more >>>
Price: $655.97 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Doisy-Vedrines, 1961
Barsac
Sweet White Wine
Doisy-Védrines is the largest of the three Doisy vineyards in Barsac (the other two are Doisy-Daëne and Doisy-Dubroca) that started to achieve acclaim in the early 19th century and was named a Second Growth in the Classicfication of 1955. This is a vintage that produced hard, firm wines even in Sauternes, wines that required decades of cellaring.
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Price: $347.66 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Gazin, 1961
Pomerol
93 Points - Robert Parker
Upper Shoulder
The 1961 Chateau Gazin is an outstanding classic 'left bank Pomerol' from a legendary vintage. Cellar tracker revies give this 93 points. Nose: Classic Pomerol expressions of plum, damson, black cherry, leather, wood smoke, sweet berries and clay. A very engaging nose. Palate: Surprising vigor in the Black Plum, raspberry, ponzu and tobacco on the palate. Great density that has elements of mocha, toffee and spice in the plum fruit. Finish: Good length.
Château Gazin is a prestigious wine estate located in the Pomerol appellation of Bordeaux, France. With a history dating back several centuries, the estate is renowned for producing exceptional red wines. …
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Price: $589.06 USD
Stock: 5 in Stock
Chateau Gazin, 1961
Pomerol
93 Points - Robert Parker
Mid Shoulder
The 1961 Chateau Gazin is an outstanding classic 'left bank Pomerol' from a legendary vintage. Cellar tracker revies give this 93 points. Nose: Classic Pomerol expressions of plum, damson, black cherry, leather, wood smoke, sweet berries and clay. A very engaging nose. Palate: Surprising vigor in the Black Plum, raspberry, ponzu and tobacco on the palate. Great density that has elements of mocha, toffee and spice in the plum fruit. Finish: Good length.
Château Gazin is a prestigious wine estate located in the Pomerol appellation of Bordeaux, France. With a history dating back several centuries, the estate is renowned for producing exceptional red wines. …
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Price: $387.02 USD
Stock: 3 in Stock
Chateau Gazin, 1961
Sale
Pomerol
93 Points - Robert Parker
Low Shoulder | Clearance Offer | £150 ***Offer ends 31st May***
The 1961 Chateau Gazin is an outstanding classic 'left bank Pomerol' from a legendary vintage. Cellar tracker revies give this 93 points. Nose: Classic Pomerol expressions of plum, damson, black cherry, leather, wood smoke, sweet berries and clay. A very engaging nose. Palate: Surprising vigor in the Black Plum, raspberry, ponzu and tobacco on the palate. Great density that has elements of mocha, toffee and spice in the plum fruit. Finish: Good length.
Château Gazin is a prestigious wine estate located in the Pomerol appellation of Bordeaux, France. With a history dating back several centuries, the estate is renowned for producing exceptional red wines. …
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Price: $196.79 USD
Stock: 2 in Stock
Chateau Gilette, 1961
Creme de Tete, Sauternes
The 1961 Chateau Gilette is a beautiful Sauternes dessert wine still has a wonderful golden colour. It tastes young and vibrant, with good acidity and finish.
Château Gilette is a Bordeaux wine estate located in the Sauternes appellation within the Bordeaux region of France. It is renowned for producing sweet white wines, particularly Sauternes, which are made from Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle grapes affected by noble rot. Noble rot, or botrytis cinerea, is a beneficial fungus that concentrates the sugars and flavors in the grapes, resulting in luscious and complex sweet wines. …
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Price: $457.87 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Lafite Rothschild, 1961
Pauillac 1er Grand Cru Classe
High Shoulder | Label damaged and bin soiled
** 92 Points Wine Journal ***
Little sign of ageing. A fresh peppermint nose with black tea. Fully mature on the palate with supreme balance. A sublime wine.
Château Lafite Rothschild, situated in the Pauillac appellation of Bordeaux, France, stands as one of the most illustrious wine estates globally, revered for its storied history and exceptional red wines. With a lineage tracing back to the 17th century, the estate's vineyards cover approximately 112 hectares, predominantly planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot grapes. Benefitting from gravelly soils and a maritime climate, Château Lafite Rothschild crafts wines that epitomize the elegance and complexity of Pauillac terroir. …
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Price: $2,354.92 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Latour, 1961
Pauillac 1er Grand Cru Classe Half Bottle **100 Points Robert Parker**
The 1961 Latour is a wine legend!
Michael Broadbent rated it as one of his rare six-star wines, Robert Parker has consistently given it 100 points. This is a rare half bottle in good condition with a great level.
The 1961 crop was a small one, frost in May having wiped out most of the Merlot. The Latour team took pride in having picked – unlike some other properties – before excessive ripeness set in, allowing a perfectly balanced and appetising wine to be produced. The disastrous conditions in May meant that the crop was very small, and from the outset the château reported that the wines were dark, rich, ripe and incredibly concentrated but perfectly balanced. …
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Price: $2,486.12 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Leoville Barton, 1961
St Julien 2eme Cru Classe
Robert Parker Writes
Tastings in the late eighties and nineties revealed a terrific, fully mature wine, splendidly perfumed with cedar, herbs, and sweet black fruits, rich, full-bodied, and long. Based on the best bottles, this wine is fully mature, but is capable of lasting for another decade. Anticipated maturity: now-2000. Last tasted 9/97.
Château Léoville Barton is a renowned wine estate situated in the Saint-Julien appellation of Bordeaux, France. With a storied history tracing back to the 18th century, the estate has earned widespread acclaim for its exceptional red wines. Encompassing approximately 50 hectares, …
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Price: $478.86 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Lynch-Bages, 1961
Pauillac 5me Cru Classe
Mid to upper shoulder level
ROBERT PARKER: 95
Still a spectacular wine, the 1961 defies mortality. It has been at its peak for nearly 15 years, yet it shows no signs of losing its fruit and drying out. The color is a dark garnet with orange/amber at the edge. The profound bouquet has the magnetic allure that leaves great Bordeaux unmatched for complexity. Sweet notes of dried fruits, herbs, tobacco, smoke, and roasted meats are followed by an opulently-textured, thick, nearly viscous wine with high glycerin, ripe, jammy fruit, and an intoxicating combination of glycerin, extract, and suppleness. The wine holds in the glass without cracking up, and has a good 40-45 second finish. …
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Price: $649.41 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Montrose, 1961
St Estephe 2nd Growth Classification **** 94 Points - Robert Parker Wine Advocate (NM) **** Bin soiled Labels
Château Montrose is located in the east of St Estèphe (the northern most of the great Médoc communes), just north of the hamlet of Marbuzet, on a gravel knoll only 800 metres from the Gironde estuary. As far as the great wines of Bordeaux go Château Montrose is somewhat of a youngster having been founded in 1815. However this beautiful vineyard has produced one of Bordeaux's most consistent and respected wines for over 150 years. It is considered to be one of the top St Estèphe's and is known as the “Latour of St Estèphe”.
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Price: $846.20 USD
Stock: 8 in Stock
Chateau Rauzan-Segla, 1961
Margaux 2nd Growth Classification
The nose is attractive with dried orange peel, more fruit concentration than the 1966 with ripe blackberry, hedgerow and a touch of violets. The palate is medium-bodied, lacking the vigour and vivacity of the previous bottle but with good acidity. Briary, redcurrant and leather towards the finish.
Château Rauzan-Ségla, situated in the prestigious Margaux appellation of Bordeaux, France, is a historic estate celebrated for its exquisite wines and rich heritage. Established in 1661 by Pierre des Mesures de Rauzan, the château has long been recognized for its commitment to quality and tradition. …
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Price: $510.34 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chianti, 1961
Melini - Stravecchio
Chianti, situated in Tuscany in central Italy, is home to probably the best-known and most iconic of all Italian wines.
The area’s most highly regarded wines come from the Chianti Classico zone which is the heartland of the Chianti wine region – its traditional and longest-established vinicultural area. This fame is due not just to the high quality of the wines, but also to the classico zone's iconic Tuscan landscape and wine making traditions. This Chianti is characterised by its red and black cherry character, intermingled with notes of wild herbs, mint and spice, supported by a racy acidity and mellow tannins. …
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Price: $195.48 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chianti, 1961
Villa Antinori
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: $129.88 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chianti, 1961
Poggio Reale - Spalletti Ruffina
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: $169.24 USD
Stock: 1 in Stock