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.
50 products found.
Palmer Port, 1971
Colheita Port
The 1971 Palmer Port Colheita is a very rare single-harvest Tawny Port, aged in seasoned oak casks for more than five decades. From an early 1970s vintage, this extraordinary Colheita shows remarkable maturity, elegance and complexity, offering a unique opportunity to enjoy a Port that has been patiently nurtured across generations. A true collector’s treasure. Drink now or enjoy over the next decade.
Tasting Notes:
Deep mahogany-tawny with golden edges. The nose is intensely complex, revealing aromas of dried figs, dates, roasted walnuts, caramelised orange peel, coffee and sweet spice. …
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Price: £349.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Ryst Dupeyron Armagnac, 1971
Ryst Dupeyron Reserve Joseph Millesime vintage Armagnac
50cl bottle
The 1971 Armagnac Millésime from Ryst Dupeyron is a stellar example of aged Armagnac, offering a complex and refined tasting experience for both connoisseurs and newcomers to the world of Armagnac.
Tasting Notes
Expect flavours typical of well-aged Armagnac, such as prunes, figs, and apricots, spices like vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg, roasted nuts, and possibly floral or woody undertones. The specific profile can vary based on the conditions of the 1971 growing season and the aging process it underwent.
Serving & Food Pairing
Armagnac is traditionally enjoyed neat, allowing you to fully appreciate its complexity. …
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Price: £159.00
Stock: 15 in Stock
Prandi Barolo, 1971
Cantine Prandi, Barolo, Piedmont
Ex Cellars- Library Release
1971 Barolo – Cantine Prandi
Producer Library Stock (Exclusive to VWP)
The 1971 vintage is regarded as one of the classic post-war years in Piedmont, producing Barolo wines of structure, perfume and remarkable longevity. This bottle from Cantine Prandi comes from a traditional era of Nebbiolo winemaking, when long ageing and patient cellar maturation were central to the style. Offered as last library stock, it represents a rare opportunity to acquire a bottle that has remained in producer or long-term cellar conditions since release.
Tasting Notes:
Now displaying a brick-garnet colour with amber highlights at the rim, the nose is mature and finely layered. …
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Price: £135.00
Stock: 29 in Stock
Barbaresco, 1971
Giacomo Borgogno - Riserva
1971 Barbaresco – Giacomo Borgogno Riserva
The 1971 vintage is regarded as one of the classic years in Piedmont, producing wines of structure, perfume and excellent longevity. Giacomo Borgogno is one of the region’s historic producers, renowned for a traditional approach to Nebbiolo that emphasises extended ageing and patient cellar maturation. This Riserva bottling reflects that classical style, offering a rare glimpse into mature Barbaresco from a celebrated era.
Tasting Notes:
Now showing a brick-garnet colour with amber highlights at the rim, the nose is finely evolved and expressive. …
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Price: £139.00
Stock: 10 in Stock
Barbaresco, 1971
Contratto, Barbaresco, Piedmonte
1971 Barbaresco – Giuseppe Contratto
The 1971 vintage is regarded as one of the classic years in Piedmont, producing structured and long-lived wines with impressive depth. Giuseppe Contratto, a historic name in the region founded in the 19th century, was known for traditional winemaking methods that allowed Nebbiolo to express its natural perfume and ageing potential. This bottle offers a rare glimpse into Barbaresco from a celebrated era of classical production.
Tasting Notes:
Now brick-garnet in colour with amber highlights at the rim, the nose is mature and finely layered. Aromas of dried cherry, rose petal and redcurrant intertwine with notes of leather, tobacco leaf and forest floor. …
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Price: £165.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Barbaresco, 1971
Giordano Giovanni
Was £139.95
Last One | Now £99
1971 Barbaresco – Giordano Giovanni
The 1971 vintage is recognised as one of the classic years in Piedmont, producing wines of structure, perfume and impressive longevity. This Barbaresco from Giordano Giovanni reflects a traditional approach to Nebbiolo winemaking, where patient ageing and time in bottle allow the wine’s complexity and elegance to emerge fully.
Tasting Notes:
Now brick-garnet in colour with amber highlights at the rim, the nose is mature and expressive. Aromas of dried cherry, rose petal and redcurrant intertwine with notes of leather, tobacco leaf and forest floor. With time in the glass, subtle hints of truffle, cedarwood and warm spice develop, adding depth and refinement. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barbaresco, 1971
Produttori del Barbaresco - Riserva Rabajà
The Barbaresco DOC 1971 “Rabajà Riserva” Produttori del Barbaresco is an exceptionally rare and historic Nebbiolo wine from Piedmont, Italy. Produced by Produttori del Barbaresco, this Riserva comes from the Rabajà cru, one of the most prestigious vineyards in Barbaresco, known for its balance of power, elegance, and aromatic complexity.
This vintage represents the early Riserva bottlings from the cooperative, showcasing the quality and ageing potential of carefully selected parcels of Nebbiolo.
Tasting Notes:
The 1971 Rabajà Riserva is now fully mature and deeply tertiary. The nose reveals aromas of dried rose petals, …
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Price: £229.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Barbera, 1971
Pio Cesare
Was £79.95
Damaged Label | Now £50
This mature Barbera comes from Pio Cesare, one of Piedmont’s most historic and respected estates, renowned for producing expressive, age-worthy wines that combine structure with elegance. The 1971 vintage displays a deep garnet-red colour with brick-orange highlights, reflecting over five decades of careful bottle ageing.
On the nose, it reveals inviting aromas of dried red cherries, plum, and blackberry, intertwined with notes of sweet spice, leather, tobacco, and a subtle earthy minerality. The palate is smooth and harmonious, with Barbera’s naturally vibrant acidity still providing lift and freshness. …
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Price: £50.00
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
Giacomo Borgogno - Riserva
Was £289
Now £195
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: £195.00
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
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: £99.00
Stock: 1 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
The Brunello di Montalcino DOC 1971 Silvio Nardi is a rare and historically important Tuscan wine from one of the pioneering estates of Montalcino. Produced in the early decades of Brunello’s modern development, this vintage represents a traditional interpretation of Sangiovese Grosso, shaped by long ageing and classic winemaking methods.
Tasting Notes:
The 1971 vintage is fully mature and deeply tertiary. The nose reveals aromas of dried cherry, sour plum, leather, tobacco, dried rose petals, forest floor, and earthy spice, with additional notes of balsamic, cedarwood, and dried herbs emerging with air. …
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Price: £139.00
Stock: 11 in Stock
Cabernet, 1971
S. Margherita
Santa Margherita Cabernet 1971 is a remarkable survivor from one of Italy's most respected wine producers. Bottled over five decades ago, it offers a rare opportunity to own a genuine piece of Italian wine history and an exceptional gift for anyone celebrating a 1971 birth year, anniversary or special occasion.
Produced by Santa Margherita, a name synonymous with quality and innovation in Italian winemaking, this Cabernet reflects an era when wines were crafted with patience and tradition. Today, very few bottles remain, making examples from this vintage increasingly difficult to source.
While mature wines should be appreciated for their history as much as their drinkability, …
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Price: £69.95
Stock: 2 in Stock
Cannonau Di Sardegna, 1971
Riforma Agraria
Cannonau di Sardegna 1971 – Riforma Agraria is a rare and authentic piece of Sardinian wine history. Produced during a transformative period for the island's wine industry, this bottle has matured for more than five decades, making it an increasingly scarce survivor from one of Italy's most distinctive wine regions.
Crafted from Cannonau, Sardinia's flagship grape variety, the wine originates from a landscape shaped by rugged hillsides, Mediterranean sunshine and centuries of winemaking tradition. Bottles from this era are seldom encountered today, particularly with identifiable provenance and original presentation. …
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Carema, 1971
L. Bertolo
The Carema DOC 1971 L. Bertolo 75 cl 12,5% is a traditional red wine from Piedmont, Italy. Produced under the Carema DOC designation and bottled by L. Bertolo, it reflects the classic mountain Nebbiolo style of northern Piedmont in the early 1970s: austere, elegant, and structured, shaped by high-altitude vineyards and long traditional aging. Wines from this area are historically known for their finesse, acidity-driven structure, and ability to develop complex tertiary aromas over very long aging periods.
Tasting notes:
The 1971 vintage is now fully mature and well beyond peak, showing deep tertiary evolution typical of aged Nebbiolo from Carema. …
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Price: £89.95
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Brane Cantenac, 1971
Cantenac Margaux 2nd Growth Classification
On the decline yet still life. Fewer fruit notes and more tertiary notes. Forrest floor, truffles, meat, umami, chocolate. Very interesting and was fun to try to a 50th birthday celebration. Color was still there with garnet hues. Really exemplifies how Bordeaux can age. Cellar Tracker Review posted 2021
Château Brane-Cantenac is a renowned wine estate situated in the Margaux appellation of Bordeaux, France. With roots tracing back to the 18th century, the estate has earned a reputation for crafting exceptional red wines. Encompassing approximately 75 hectares, the vineyard benefits from gravelly and sandy soils, ideal for cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot grapes. …
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Price: £129.00
Stock: 6 in Stock
Chateau Broustet, 1971
Sauternes, Sweet White Wine
The 1971 Château Broustet, a Deuxième Cru Classé from the Barsac appellation, represents a mature expression of Sauternes from a vintage noted for its elegance and freshness. While specific tasting notes for this vintage are scarce, insights can be drawn from the estate's winemaking practices and the general characteristics of the 1971 harvest.
In 1971, Sauternes and Barsac experienced favorable conditions for the development of noble rot (Botrytis cinerea), leading to wines that, while not exceptionally concentrated, offered freshness and refined acidity. Château Broustet's vineyards, situated on clay-limestone and gravel soils, are planted predominantly with Sémillon, complemented by Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau La Gurgue, 1971
Margaux
Château La Gurgue, situated in the Margaux appellation of Bordeaux, has a rich history of producing wines that reflect the elegance and complexity characteristic of the region. The 1971 vintage, while overshadowed by the exceptional 1970, was considered very good, yielding wines that have aged gracefully over the decades.
Specific tasting notes for the 1971 Château La Gurgue are scarce, making it challenging to provide detailed insights into its current profile. However, given the general quality of the 1971 vintage in Bordeaux, it's plausible that well-preserved bottles may exhibit tertiary aromas such as leather, tobacco, and earthy notes, with softened tannins and a harmonious palate. …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: 12 in Stock
Chateau Liot, 1971
Barsac, Sweet Wine
The 1971 Château Liot Sauternes is a rare and mature sweet wine from the Barsac appellation in Bordeaux. Château Liot is known for producing elegant, botrytis-affected wines primarily from Sémillon, with smaller proportions of Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. While detailed tasting notes for the 1971 vintage are scarce, the wine's longevity suggests it has developed complex tertiary aromas and flavors over time.
Given the age of this vintage, the wine likely exhibits a deep amber color, with notes of dried fruits, honey, and nuts on the nose. On the palate, one might expect a balance between residual sweetness and acidity, with flavors of caramel, apricot, and perhaps a hint of spice. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Chateauneuf du Pape, 1971
Vins de Proprietaire
The red wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape blossom and reach their prime between their third and fifth year, but their potential for aging is over ten years and more according to the vintage and storage conditions. Their color changes from intense garnet-purple in the early years to ruby after some cellaring. These wines are structured, with powerful and complex aromas of ripe fruit, mushrooms, truffles, underbrush, spicy notes, and wild animals.
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Price: £149.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chianti, 1971
Ruffino - Gran Sigillo
Was £99
Last Bottle £69.95
This Chianti displays a deep ruby-red colour with warm brick highlights. The nose reveals dried cherries, plum, gentle spice, and subtle leather and earthy notes. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and smooth, with softened tannins carrying flavours of stewed red fruits, hints of herbs, and a touch of cocoa, finishing elegant, balanced, and lingering.
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: £69.95
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chianti, 1971
Conti - Castello di Uzzano
Was £99
Last Bottle £69.95
This Chianti displays a deep ruby-red colour with brick-orange highlights. The nose shows dried cherries, plum, soft spice, and subtle notes of leather and forest floor. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and smooth, with gentle tannins supporting flavours of stewed red fruits, hints of herbs, and a touch of cocoa, finishing long, balanced, and elegant.
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: £69.95
Stock: 1 in Stock