1966 Wine and Port Vintage
Vintage Summary and Recommendations: Welcome to Vintage Wine and Port’s 1966 wine page. Read on for our summary of the vintage, our top recommendations and region reports, or scroll down to explore all available wines.
The 1966 vintage is widely regarded as one of the standout years of the twentieth century, delivering exceptional quality across several key regions. In Bordeaux, the vintage produced structured and long-lived wines that have now developed into beautifully mature clarets with depth and complexity. In Italy, the best wines from regions such as Piedmont show classic, evolved character, while in Portugal the year is considered outstanding for Port, with most major houses declaring the vintage.
In key regions such as Portugal and Bordeaux, well-stored wines from 1966 are now at a superb stage of maturity. Vintage Ports from this year are particularly sought after, offering richness, balance and remarkable longevity, making them an outstanding choice for a 60th anniversary or birthday gift.
Scroll down to explore our full selection. If you would like personal advice, please call us on 01425 837177 or contact us.
Top Recommendation: Kopke 1966 Colheita Port
A superbly aged single harvest tawny Port from one of the oldest Port houses, offering exceptional depth, balance and complexity. Fully matured in cask and bottled ready to enjoy, this is a standout choice for a 60th anniversary gift.
Best Value: Rivesaltes 1966
A wonderfully mature fortified wine offering excellent value for a 60-year-old vintage. Long ageing has created rich notes of dried fruits, caramel and spice, making it a delicious and accessible alternative to Port.
Vintage Port Choice: Messias Cachão 1966 Vintage Port
A rare and prestigious Vintage Port from Messias’ flagship Cachão vineyard, offering impressive concentration, structure and depth. Now fully mature, it delivers complex flavours of dark fruit, spice and cedar, making it a superb choice for collectors and special occasions.
Classic Italian Choice: Barbaresco Lionello Cordoni 1966
A mature Barbaresco showing classic Nebbiolo character, with developed notes of dried cherry, leather, herbs and earthy spice. Now fully evolved, it offers elegance, savoury complexity and a beautifully refined drinking experience at over 50 years of age.
Fine & Rare Selection: Château d’Yquem 1966 Sauternes
A legendary sweet wine from one of Bordeaux’s most iconic estates, offering extraordinary complexity, honeyed richness and remarkable longevity.
This Year in History: Fun Fact: The Beatles play their last conventional live concert in Britain, at the Empire Pool (Wembley) on the bill alongside The Rolling Stones and The Who.
Eurovision Winner: Austria with the song "Merci Cherie" by Udo Jurgens
Top Grossing Movie: The Bible
France: 1966 was a very good vintage in Bordeaux, producing structured wines that have matured into elegant and long-lived examples.
Read full Bordeaux vintage report
The 1966 vintage in Bordeaux was initially characterised by firm tannins and relatively high acidity, giving the wines a structured and somewhat austere profile in their youth. Over time, however, these elements have softened and integrated, allowing the wines to evolve into more approachable and harmonious expressions.
Today, many 1966 Bordeaux wines display classic mature characteristics, including notes of cedar, tobacco, leather and gentle dark fruit, with softened tannins and balanced acidity. The vintage is particularly noted for its longevity, with well-stored examples continuing to offer a refined and enjoyable drinking experience.
The best wines from leading châteaux — such as Latour and Palmer — remain in excellent condition and are still drinking at or near their peak, with the structure to continue evolving for years to come. Other well-kept Bordeaux from the vintage can also provide very good drinking, offering a traditional and elegant style of mature claret.
In Sauternes, 1966 also produced some excellent wines, with favourable conditions allowing for good ripeness and concentration. At full maturity, these wines show rich, honeyed notes alongside dried apricot, marmalade and spice, balanced by freshness that keeps them lively and complex even after many decades.
Overall, 1966 is regarded as a reliable and rewarding Bordeaux vintage, where quality and provenance remain key to selecting bottles that are drinking well today.
Italian: 1966 was a good vintage for Italy, particularly in regions such as Piedmont and Tuscany, where the best wines have matured into elegant and characterful examples.
Read full Italy vintage report
The 1966 vintage in Italy produced some very successful wines, especially in northern and central regions. In Piedmont, conditions were favourable for Nebbiolo, resulting in structured wines with the balance and acidity needed for long-term ageing. These wines have now evolved into classic mature examples, showing developed notes of dried cherry, leather, tar and earthy spice, with softened tannins and a refined, savoury profile.
In Tuscany, the vintage also performed well, with traditional Sangiovese-based wines developing into elegant and fully mature styles. While not as powerful as the greatest vintages, the best examples offer charm and balance, with flavours of dried red fruits, herbs and subtle spice.
At over 50 years of age, the finest Italian wines from 1966 are best appreciated for their tertiary complexity and finesse rather than fruit intensity. Wines such as Barolo and Brunello from respected producers can still be drinking well today, offering a distinctive and rewarding experience for those who enjoy fully mature wines.
Overall, 1966 is considered a reliable and enjoyable Italian vintage, where careful selection and good provenance are key to finding bottles that continue to show well.
Portugal: 1966 is widely regarded as one of the finest post-war vintages in Portugal, producing exceptional Vintage Ports of great longevity and balance.
Read full Portugal vintage report
The 1966 vintage in Portugal is considered outstanding, with most of the major Port houses declaring the year. Although it was long overshadowed by the legendary 1963 vintage, it is now widely recognised as one of the very best post-war years for Vintage Port.
The wines from 1966 are characterised by their structure, balance and remarkable longevity. In their youth they showed firm tannins and concentration, but with extended ageing they have developed into beautifully integrated and complex wines. Today, the best examples display rich flavours of dark fruits, spice, chocolate and dried fig, alongside refined notes of leather and cedar.
One of the defining features of the 1966 vintage is its ability to age gracefully over many decades. Well-stored bottles remain in excellent condition and continue to offer depth, balance and freshness, with many expected to outlast their 1963 counterparts and evolve further in the years ahead.
Overall, 1966 stands as a benchmark Vintage Port year, producing wines of exceptional quality that make an outstanding and meaningful choice for a 60th anniversary or birthday gift.
62 products found.
Kopke, 1966
Colheita Port in Presentation Box
Decanter 2025 Gold Award Winner
Was £245 Special Offer £195
Decanter Review for the 1966 Kopke Colheita Port
Gloriously rich and savoury, with rich dried fig and apricot aromas, and the weight and texture of wood ageing. Dates, caramel, leather and thyme on a steely palate with brazil nut hints and roasted spices.
With amber colour and greenish hints. Refined and elegant, reveals richness in the aromatic diversity with noted of nuts, cocoa and wood splashed by a subtle vinegar denoting a great style.Full-bodied, round and concentrated mouth. The quince jam and vanilla flavours are blended with the dried fruit and the candied orange peel. Ends long and with an irresistible freshness. …
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Price: £195.00
Stock: 6 in Stock
Palmer Port, 1966
Colheita Port
75cl Bottle
Exclusive to Vintage Wine and Port
The 1966 Palmer Port Colheita (75cl) is a truly historic single-harvest Tawny Port, aged in seasoned oak casks for more than five decades. From one of the most celebrated vintages of the 20th century, this Colheita has developed extraordinary maturity, elegance and complexity. Bottled in the traditional 75cl format, it is a perfect choice for collectors, milestone celebrations or those wishing to experience a fine piece of Port history. Drink now or savour over the coming years.
Tasting Notes:
Deep mahogany-tawny with golden highlights. …
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Price: £189.00
Stock: 50 in Stock
Rivesaltes, 1966
Rivesaltes St Michel, Rivesaltes VDN - Fortified Sweet Wine.
1966 Rivesaltes St Michel – Rivesaltes VDN
Produced in the warm Mediterranean vineyards of Roussillon, the 1966 Rivesaltes St Michel is a traditional Vin Doux Naturel, fortified to preserve natural sweetness and then matured for decades in cask and bottle. St Michel is a classic regional producer, following long-established methods of fortification and oxidative ageing that allow the wine to develop remarkable complexity over time.
Tasting Notes:
Deep amber-mahogany in colour with copper and olive highlights at the rim, the nose is richly evolved and expressive. Aromas of dried apricot, orange peel and fig mingle with notes of walnut, caramel and toasted almond, alongside subtle hints of spice and polished wood. …
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Price: £165.00
Stock: 20 in Stock
Messias, 1966
Colheita Port
Gold - International Wine Challenge
Was £195 Now £175
Exclusive to VWP
Colheita Ports like the 1966 Messias are known for their exceptional aging potential. The extended aging in oak barrels allows the wine to develop complexity and a smooth, mellow character over time.
Award tasting note
"Light mahogany with wide lemon rim, raisin dated and tangerine on the rich, warm nose, generous, profound but stylish on the palate with rich supple fruit and a flossy texture, savour & deep with lovely fleshing finish".
Serving & Food Pairing
Colheita Ports are ready-to drink and do not require decanting. Best enjoyed slightly chilled at 12-13ºC they will work wonders if pairing with treacle tart, crème brulee or nut based desserts, like hazelnut praline. …
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Price: £175.00
Stock: 82 in Stock
Messias, 1966
Quinta Cachao Vintage Port
Messias Library Release
The 1966 vintage in the Douro was marked by classic conditions — a balanced growing season that allowed for full physiological ripeness without excessive heat. In the mid-20th century, producers like Messias focussed on traditional, patiently crafted Ports, favouring extended cask ageing and careful bottle evolution. Quinta do Cachão, perched on steep schist terraces in the Cima Corgo, has long been respected for its well-structured, expressive Ports, and this 1966 Vintage is a distinguished example of that era’s style: balanced, quietly powerful and beautifully aged.
Tasting Notes:
Now a deep amber-ruby with tawny reflections at the rim, the bouquet is richly evolved and multilayered. …
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Price: £265.00
Stock: 25 in Stock
Barbaresco, 1966
Giordano
This mature Barbaresco shows a brick-garnet hue with orange highlights. The nose is elegant, revealing dried red fruits, rose petal, spice, and subtle earthy notes. Silky and balanced on the palate, it delivers softened tannins, hints of candied orange peel, and a touch of truffle, finishing long with spice, cedar, and gentle leather.
Decanting: Stand upright for 24 hours, decant carefully, and allow 1–2 hours of breathing. Serve at 16–18°C to showcase its refined aromas and structure.
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Price: £149.00
Stock: 9 in Stock
Barbaresco, 1966
Lionello Cordoni
Was £169 Special Offer £139
This mature Barbaresco displays a warm brick-garnet colour with soft amber highlights. The nose is elegant and nuanced, offering dried red berries, rose petal, subtle spice, and hints of leather and forest floor. On the palate, it is silky and balanced, with softened yet structured tannins supporting flavours of dried cherry, candied orange peel, and delicate earthy undertones. The finish is long, refined, and lingering, with echoes of spice, cedar, and gentle leather.
Decanting: Stand the bottle upright for at least 24 hours to settle sediment. Decant slowly through a fine strainer and allow 1–2 hours to breathe. …
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Price: £139.00
Stock: 6 in Stock
Barbaresco, 1966
Serio Battista Borgogno
This elegant Barbaresco shows a brick-garnet core with amber highlights, reflecting over five decades of careful maturation. The nose is complex and refined, revealing dried red cherries, rose petal, sweet spice, and subtle earthy notes of forest floor and leather. On the palate, it is silky and harmonious, with softened yet structured tannins supporting flavours of candied cherry, orange zest, and hints of cedar and truffle. The finish is long, layered, and lingering, showcasing the wine’s remarkable depth and elegance.
Decanting: Stand the bottle upright for 24 hours to settle sediment. Decant slowly through a fine strainer and allow the wine to breathe for 1–2 hours. …
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Price: £159.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Barbaresco, 1966
Marchesi di Barolo
Barbaresco, 1966 – Marchesi di Barolo
The 1966 vintage in Piedmont yielded wines of poise and classical restraint, marked by a long, even growing season that allowed Nebbiolo to mature fully while retaining vibrant acidity and firm structure. Marchesi di Barolo, one of the region’s historic houses with deep roots in traditional winemaking, crafted Barbaresco in this era with an emphasis on elegance and longevity. Time in substantial bottlings has seen this wine evolve into a profoundly nuanced expression of Nebbiolo’s noble character.
Tasting Notes:
Now a brick-garnet hue with amber tinges at the rim, the bouquet is quietly complex and beautifully aged. …
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Price: £195.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barbaresco, 1966
G. Troglia - RARE FORMAT of 2,1 Liters
The 1966 Barbaresco from G. Troglia, presented in an exceptionally rare 2.1-liter format, is a remarkable collector’s piece from one of Piedmont’s most historic wine regions. Barbaresco, crafted from the noble Nebbiolo grape, is famed for its elegance, aromatic complexity, and ageing potential—and in a vintage like 1966, considered classic for the area, these qualities are elevated to an extraordinary level. The large-format bottling adds further intrigue, as wines age more slowly and gracefully in bigger bottles, preserving freshness and complexity over decades.
In the glass, this mature Barbaresco shows a brick-garnet core with an orange-brown rim, a hallmark of fully developed Nebbiolo. …
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Price: £389.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barolo, 1966
Terre del Barolo - Riserva Speciale (MAGNUM)
This exceptional Barolo displays a deep garnet core with amber highlights, reflecting over fifty years of careful ageing. On the nose, it offers a complex bouquet of dried red cherries, rose petal, gentle spice, leather, and subtle earthy notes of forest floor and tobacco. The palate is rich yet refined, with softened tannins supporting flavours of candied cherry, orange zest, hints of truffle, and cedar. The finish is long, layered, and elegant, showcasing the wine’s depth, finesse, and classic Nebbiolo character.
Decanting: Stand the bottle upright for 24 hours to allow sediment to settle. …
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Price: £299.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barolo, 1966
Luigi Bosca & Figli
This elegant Barolo presents a deep garnet core with amber highlights, reflecting over fifty years of careful ageing. On the nose, it offers a refined bouquet of dried red cherries, rose petal, gentle spice, leather, and subtle earthy notes of forest floor and tobacco. The palate is harmonious and balanced, with softened yet structured tannins supporting flavours of candied cherry, orange zest, hints of truffle, and cedar. The finish is long, layered, and sophisticated, highlighting the wine’s depth, finesse, and classic Nebbiolo character.
Decanting: Stand the bottle upright for 24 hours to allow sediment to settle. …
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Price: £179.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Barolo, 1966
Luigi Calissano - Riserva Speciale
Appearance: pale garnet or amber colour, with a broad, tawny rim.
Nose: intensely aromatic and layered. Expect a bouquet of dried roses, potpourri, and old leather, typical of aged Barolo. Earthy and savoury notes like truffle, underbrush, and wet leaves would likely be prominent, along with hints of tobacco, cigar box, and perhaps a touch of menthol or eucalyptus.
Palate: smooth and harmonious, with tannins that have softened to a velvety texture. The acidity, while still present, would provide a balance that keeps the wine lively despite its age. Flavours of dried cherries, cranberries, and figs would dominate, intertwined with savoury elements like dried herbs, leather, and truffle. …
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Price: £149.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barolo, 1966
Marchesi di Barolo
This mature Barolo displays a deep garnet core with warm amber highlights, reflecting over fifty years of careful ageing. On the nose, it reveals refined aromas of dried red cherries, rose petal, gentle spice, leather, and subtle earthy nuances of forest floor and tobacco. The palate is elegant and balanced, with softened yet structured tannins supporting flavours of candied cherry, orange zest, hints of truffle, and cedar. The finish is long, layered, and harmonious, showcasing the wine’s depth, finesse, and classic Nebbiolo character.
Decanting: Stand the bottle upright for 24 hours to settle sediment. …
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Price: £189.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barolo, 1966
Terre del Barolo - Riserva Speciale
This historic Barolo shows a deep garnet core with amber highlights, reflecting over fifty years of careful ageing. On the nose, it reveals a complex and refined bouquet of dried red cherries, rose petal, gentle spice, leather, and subtle earthy notes of forest floor and tobacco. The palate is elegant and balanced, with softened yet structured tannins supporting flavours of candied cherry, orange zest, hints of truffle, and cedar. The finish is long, layered, and harmonious, demonstrating the wine’s depth, finesse, and classic Nebbiolo character.
Decanting: Stand the bottle upright for 24 hours to settle sediment. …
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Price: £149.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barolo, 1966
Luigi Bosca
This mature Barolo displays a deep garnet core with amber highlights, reflecting over fifty years of careful ageing. The nose is refined and complex, offering aromas of dried red cherries, rose petal, gentle spice, leather, and subtle earthy notes of forest floor and tobacco. On the palate, it is elegant and balanced, with softened yet structured tannins supporting flavours of candied cherry, orange zest, hints of truffle, and cedar. The finish is long, layered, and sophisticated, showcasing the wine’s depth, finesse, and classic Nebbiolo character.
Decanting: Stand the bottle upright for 2–3 days prior to opening to allow any sediment to settle. …
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Price: £179.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barolo, 1966
Giacomo Damilano
This mature Barolo presents a deep garnet core with amber highlights, reflecting over five decades of careful ageing. On the nose, it reveals a refined bouquet of dried red cherries, rose petal, gentle spice, leather, and subtle earthy notes of forest floor and tobacco. The palate is silky and harmonious, with softened yet structured tannins supporting flavours of candied cherry, orange zest, hints of truffle, and cedar. The finish is long, layered, and elegant, showcasing the wine’s depth, finesse, and classic Nebbiolo character.
Decanting: Stand the bottle upright for 24 hours to allow sediment to settle. …
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Price: £169.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Barolo, 1966
Giordano
This mature Barolo shows a deep garnet core with amber highlights, reflecting over fifty years of careful maturation. The nose is elegant and complex, with aromas of dried red cherries, rose petal, gentle spice, leather, and subtle earthy notes of forest floor and tobacco. On the palate, it is silky and balanced, with softened yet structured tannins carrying flavours of candied cherry, orange zest, hints of truffle, and cedar. The finish is long, layered, and refined, showcasing the wine’s depth, finesse, and classic Nebbiolo character.
Decanting: Stand the bottle upright for 24 hours to allow sediment to settle. …
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Price: £159.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Beaujolais, 1966
Chateau Varennes - RARE BIG BOTTLE of 5 Liters
Beaujolais is an important wine region of eastern France, famous for its vibrant, fruity red wines made from Gamay. It is located immediately south of Burgundy, of which it is sometimes considered to be a part, despite being within the Rhone administrative region. ** Please note that this wine is part of a clearance offer and therefore is excluded from our guarantee**
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Price: £395.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Beychevelle, 1966
St julien 4me cru classe
High Shoulder | Bin Soiled & remains of label
This wine has been well stored in a cool cellar for over 50 years. Red brown colour. Very elegant mature bouquet with acidity and oak. Soft and fresh wine which has just enough body to make it interesting. Long aftertaste.
About Château Beychevelle Chateau Beychevelle is a prestigious wine estate located in the Saint-Julien appellation of Bordeaux, France. With a history that dates back to the 17th century, the estate has garnered a reputation for producing exceptional red wines. Spanning approximately 90 hectares, the vineyard benefits from gravelly soils and a favorable microclimate, ideal for nurturing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot grapes. …
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Price: £199.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau d'Yquem, 1966
Sauternes 1er Grand cru Classe
Experience the timeless allure of the 1966 Château d’Yquem, a legendary Sauternes that stands as a testament to patience, craftsmanship, and the magic of noble rot. Nearly six decades in the making, this extraordinary vintage has developed a deep amber hue and a mesmerizing bouquet of honeyed apricot, candied orange peel, and delicate caramel. Every sip is a journey through time, revealing layers of complexity and grace that only the world’s most celebrated sweet wine can offer.
The 1966 vintage is a rare treasure from Yquem’s illustrious history, representing an era when meticulous vineyard work and strict selection yielded wines of remarkable longevity. …
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Price: £595.00
Stock: 17 in Stock
Chateau Fourcas Holsten, 1966
Listrac (Médoc) Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel
Château Fourcas Hosten, located in the Listrac-Médoc appellation of Bordeaux, has a history dating back to the 18th century. The 1966 vintage, now approaching six decades of maturity, offers a unique opportunity to experience a wine from this era.
Specific tasting notes for the 1966 Château Fourcas Hosten are limited. However, given its 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.
When serving such a mature wine, it's advisable to decant gently to separate any sediment and allow the wine to breathe, enhancing its complex aromas and flavors. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 10 in Stock
Chateau Grand Puy Ducasse, 1966
Pauillac 5th Growth Classification
Château Grand-Puy Ducasse 1966 is a mature red Bordeaux from the Pauillac appellation, part of the Médoc on the Left Bank of the Gironde. Classified as a Fifth Growth (Cinquième Cru) in the 1855 classification, Grand-Puy Ducasse is known for producing structured, Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wines that reflect Pauillac’s classic character — think power, dark fruit, and firm tannins. The 1966 vintage, while not legendary, was solid and has produced some long-lived wines, especially from top terroirs.
At nearly 60 years old, the 1966 Grand-Puy Ducasse is very much a wine of elegance and subtlety rather than fruit or power. …
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Price: £149.00
Stock: 4 in Stock
Chateau Latour, 1966
Pauillac, 1er Grand Cru Classe
*** 96 Points Robert Parker ***
*** 95 Points Wine Journal ***
Reviews
"The wine of the vintage, the 1966 Latour is a classic, old style Bordeaux that has required decades to become drinkable. A dark, opaque garnet color is followed by a fabulous nose of cedar, sweet leather, black fruits, prunes, and roasted walnuts, refreshing underlying acidity, sweet but noticeable tannin, and a spicy finish. This powerful, vigorous, immensely impressive, concentrated Latour has reached its plateau of maturity, where it will remain for another 10-20 years.
"The Latour ’66 remains one of the great wines of the vintage. …
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Price: £795.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Lyonnat, 1966
Lussac Saint Emilion
Château Lyonnat 1966
Lussac-Saint-Émilion
A rare and characterful mature Bordeaux from the Right Bank, this 1966 Château Lyonnat offers a fascinating glimpse into the longevity of traditional Saint-Émilion wines. Produced in a classic vintage, it has evolved gracefully over the decades, developing the complex tertiary aromas that collectors and enthusiasts seek.
On the nose, it reveals a delicate bouquet of dried red fruits, autumn leaves, cedar wood and old leather, with subtle hints of tobacco and forest floor. The palate is soft and fully mature, showing gentle notes of stewed plum, redcurrant and earthy spice, supported by fine, resolved tannins. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 4 in Stock