1973 Wine and Port Vintage
Vintage Summary and Recommendations: A short summary of the 1973 Vintage with our top recommendations 1973 Wine and Port
The 1973 vintage was generally considered better than the preceding 1972 vintage, but it still wasn't a standout year for Port or wine production in Europe. In Portugal's Douro Valley, the 1973 vintage was not widely declared by Port houses. Some Port houses did produce and release 1973 vintage Ports, but they are generally considered to be of moderate quality as they tend to lack the richness and depth of better vintages. These wines would make a fabulous 52 year old wine gift for an Anniversary or birthday.
Our Wine Expert currently recommends the following wines for this year:
This Year in History: Television sitcom Last of the Summer Wine begins its first series run on BBC One.The Eurovision Winner was Luxembourg with the song "Tu Te Reconnaitras" by Anne-Marie David. Tom Kerridge, Chef, was born in this year and features on the reality culinary programs MasterChef, Saturday Kitchen, and Great British Menu.
Top Grossing Movie: The Exorcist
Bordeaux: Bordeaux 1973 wines are the product of a cold, wet summer, which was made worse by a rain in late August which bloated the grapes just before harvest. When released they were light, early drinking wines and time has not improved them! If you’re seeking a gift to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, we would recommend a bottle of colheita Port or a 1973 Montilla Moriles.
The 1973 wine vintage produced an enormous crop of easy drinking wines full of succulent fruit. The best examples from vineyards that adopted good selection are still drinking well today, although wines from Pauillac and Graves stand out. The weather was dry and warm throughout most of spring, providing good conditions for flowering. Heavy rain fell during much of July, but the month that followed was hot and dry. September began fine, but wet conditions returned from the middle of the month onwards.
Italian: Only a small crop of 1973 wine was produced in Italy and the wines are now very rare. The growing season was held back by inclement weather in the main Italian wine regions of Piedmont and Tuscany. Tuscany produced a small crop of Brunello and Chianti, generally characterised as having good colour, high acidity and some dryness. The best of the vintage originates from the more southerly regions.
Portugal: 1973 was not declared and very little Port exists from this year. A wet winter followed by an inconsistent summer led to a small crop. In 1973 there was a lack of quality spirit to fortify the grapes resulting in very little Port being made. Remarkably, we discovered a cask of 1973 white colheita Port at Devesa and persuaded them to bottle it exclusively for us.
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67 products found.
Valtellina, 1973
Runchet - A. Pelizzatti
Valtellina is one of Italy’s most dramatic wine regions, located in Lombardy, the vineyards are located on steep mountains. The principal grape variety is Chiavennasca (the local name for Piedmont’s Nebbiolo and an Italian grape varietal that has been cultivated since medieval times here). The DOCG wines are generally comprised of at least 90% Chiavennasca and then blended with other quality local grapes like Brugnola, Rossola, Pignola. Then there is a DOC Valtellina Rosso (also called Rosso di Valtellina DOC) which requires at least 80% of the blend be Chiavennasca and does not have minimum ageing requirements. …
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Price: £89.00
Stock: 8 in Stock
Valtellina, 1973
Cantina Coop. Villa
Clearance Offer | Was £89 | Now £40
Valtellina is one of Italy’s most dramatic wine regions, located in Lombardy, the vineyards are located on steep mountains. The principal grape variety is Chiavennasca (the local name for Piedmont’s Nebbiolo and an Italian grape varietal that has been cultivated since medieval times here). The DOCG wines are generally comprised of at least 90% Chiavennasca and then blended with other quality local grapes like Brugnola, Rossola, Pignola. Then there is a DOC Valtellina Rosso (also called Rosso di Valtellina DOC) which requires at least 80% of the blend be Chiavennasca and does not have minimum ageing requirements. …
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Price: £42.00
Stock: 9 in Stock
Vecchio Maniero, 1973
Marchesi di Barolo
This wine from the good 1973 vintage is made with the long lived Nebbiolo grape. this is a black-skinned red wine grape variety most famous for creating the 'tar and roses' scent of Barolo wines from Piedmont, north-western Italy. The grape's very name is evocative of its home among the misty foothills of the western Alps; the nebbia (Italian for 'fog') after which it is named frequently arrives on early October mornings, when the Nebbiolo harvest is in full swing.
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Vernaccia di Sardegna, 1973
Vini Classici di Sardegna
This is a sherry-like wine made in Sardegna Vernaccia, like Muscat, Malvasia and Clairette, is a name applied to several distinct grape varieties, rather than identifying a single one definitively. The reason for this is simply that the name derives from the Latin word for 'domestic' or 'native' – in fact it is directly related to the word 'vernacular', meaning the language of a particular place or people. Vernaccia di Oristano is distinguished from other Vernaccias only by the fact that it grows around Oristano, in the west of Sardinia. It is thought to be grown nowhere else in the world. Like their Cannonau (Grenache) counterparts in Sardinia, …
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Price: £85.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Grand Puy Ducasse, 1973
Pauillac 5th Growth Classification
From the good 1973 vintage, the 1973 Grand Puy Ducasse has an appearance of an orange rim on a garnet core showing its maturity. There is still black fruit qualities on the nose and palate. Medium finish.
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Price: £89.95
Stock: Out of Stock
Chateau Gruaud Larose, 1973
St Julien 2me Cru Classe
The 1973 Chateau Gruaud Larose has some soft red fruit on the nose. Medium acidity and tannins this wine has a short finish.
Château Gruaud-Larose, situated in the Saint-Julien appellation of Bordeaux, France, holds a distinguished reputation dating back to the 18th century. With approximately 82 hectares of vineyards planted primarily with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, the estate benefits from gravelly and sandy soils, ideal for producing exceptional red wines. Known for its rich, complex blends, Château Gruaud-Larose's wines offer a harmonious balance of ripe fruit flavors, structured tannins, and a distinct Saint-Julien character. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Chateau Lynch Moussas, 1973
Pauillac 5th Growth Classification
Château Lynch-Moussas' wine originates from the estate's vineyards morcellated through the commune of Pauillac. The Chateau owns plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The 1973 is a mature wine with deep amber on the rim and notes of tobbacco.
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Price: £129.00
Stock: Out of Stock