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 53 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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64 products found.
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, 1973
Martillac
The 1973 Smith Haut Lafitte was fully mature decades ago and has gracefully declined into an old wine with a mahogany core, notes of mushroom and farmyard, soft fruit, nice acidity and a moderate finish.
About Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Château Smith Haut Lafitte is a renowned wine estate located in the Pessac-Léognan appellation of Bordeaux, France. With origins dating back to the 14th century, the estate encompasses 78 hectares of vineyards planted on gravelly soils that are ideal for viticulture. The château produces both red and white wines, primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Sauvignon Blanc, with smaller quantities of Sauvignon Gris and Sémillon. …
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Price: £129.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Talbot, 1973
St Julien 4th Growth Classification
A surprisingly good wine for the vintage, The 1973 Talbot is now in decline as the fruit recedes, and the dusty tannins and oak become more dominant, this medium ruby-coloured wine still has good body and enough interest in the bouquet to hold many people's attention.
Château Talbot, situated in the Saint-Julien appellation of Bordeaux, France, is renowned for its prestigious history and exceptional red wines. With origins tracing back to the 17th century, the estate's vineyards span approximately 107 hectares, primarily planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot grapes. …
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Price: £149.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chianti, 1973
Castello di Gabiano
Clearance Offer - Last Bottle | Was £99 | Now £65
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: £65.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chianti, 1973
S. Martino alla Palma
Was £89 Clearance Offer £42.50
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: £42.50
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chianti, 1973
Bertolli
Was £99 Clearance | Last Bottle £45
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: £45.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Cirò, 1973
Ipskron - Ciro Marina
Was £89 Clearance £42
The Ciro Rosso has a bright ruby red color and transparent. Has an elegant bouquet in which they differ floral and fruity notes: rose, maraschino cherry, red fruit and hints of iodine on a rhubarb and sweet spices. The palate has a right to the body weight in balance and freshness, is intense and soft with a lingering fruity finish and almonds.
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Price: £42.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Colombe, 1973
Renato Ratti
Special Offer | Was £69 | Now £54
Very forward nose of leather and cherries, liquorice wild strawberries, ripe plums and pencil .The palate is very nice balance of sweet fruit and acidity.
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Price: £54.00
Stock: 14 in Stock
Dolcetto, 1973
Terre del Barolo
Clearance Offer | Was £69 | Now £32.20
A native black grape variety of Northern Italy grown almost exclusively in the provinces of Cuneo and Alessandria in Piedmont. It is relatively easy to cultivate, although it is susceptible to fungal diseases. It ripens before Barbera and Nebbiolo and is often grown in high north-facing sites which would be unsuitable for Nebbiolo. The finest Dolcetto wines come from grapes grown on soils rich with white marls, especially those found on the right bank of the River Tauro. The wines generally are low in tannins and acidity and are usually fruity and fragrant, often with hints of almonds.
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Price: £32.20
Stock: 2 in Stock
D'Oliveiras Madeira, 1973
Verdelho Madeira
Rich and complex Madeira from the brilliant D’Oliveiras reserve.
A complex Madeira with a spicy-citrus nose and hints of marmalade. The wine has a rich palate, with a refreshing acidity balancing this medium dry wine to perfection. Excellent served slightly chilled as an aperitif but is also exceedingly good with soups, oysters, feathered game and patês. It has been bottled ready for drinking and will keep for several months after opening.
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Price: £325.00
Stock: 23 in Stock
Fiorano, 1973
Ludovisi Principe di Vinosa
Was £129 Clearance Offer £69
Made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes, the wine ages in old 10-hectoliter Slovenian barrels. It has a bright, intense ruby color of medium concentration. The aromas are truly complex and pronounced with austere notes of tar, slightly smoky as well as balsamic tones along with accents of cassis and blueberry that merge into a broad aromatic spectrum of extraordinary elegance. The mouthfeel is silky, harmonious and full-bodied with just a hint of very fine tannins while there I absolutely no woodiness. The finish is agile and subtle with an excellent persistence.
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Freisa, 1973
Contratto, Freitas, Piedmonte
Was £89 Clearance Offer | damaged labels | £35
1973 Freisa – Contratto (Piedmont)
Freisa is one of Piedmont’s traditional indigenous varieties, historically grown alongside Nebbiolo and known for its firm structure and aromatic lift. The 1977 vintage produced classically styled wines in the region, and this bottling from Contratto — founded in 1867 and long associated with traditional Piedmontese winemaking — reflects a more historic era of regional production, where patience and extended ageing shaped the wine’s evolution.
Tasting Notes:
Now showing a mature brick-red hue with garnet reflections at the rim, the nose is savoury and gently evolved. …
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Price: £35.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Grignolino, 1973
Marchesi Villadoria
1973 Grignolino – Marchesi Villadoria (Piedmont)
Grignolino is one of Piedmont’s most traditional and distinctive indigenous varieties, known for its pale colour, vibrant acidity and naturally firm tannic profile in youth. The 1973 vintage produced classically styled regional wines, and this bottling from Marchesi Villadoria reflects a traditional era of Piedmontese winemaking, where balance and steady evolution were central to the style.
Tasting Notes:
Now showing a light brick-red hue with amber reflections at the rim, the nose is delicately evolved and aromatic. Notes of dried red cherry, cranberry and rose petal are layered with hints of dried herbs, earthy undertones and gentle spice. …
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Price: £59.95
Stock: 4 in Stock
Grignolino, 1973
Bruzzone *** RARE BIG BOTTLE 3,75 Liter ***
The Grignolino wine have a light ruby red color, tending to orange with aging. Have a characteristic odor and delicate in the mouth are dry, slightly tannic, bitter pleasant, with a characteristic aftertaste.
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Price: £329.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Grignolino, 1973
Mascarello Natale fu Maurizio
Special Offer Was £119
Offer £45
The Grignolino wines have a light ruby red color, tending to orange with aging. Have a characteristic odor and delicate in the mouth are dry, slightly tannic, bitter pleasant, with a characteristic aftertaste.
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Price: £45.00
Stock: 22 in Stock
Grignolino, 1973
Castello di Gabbiano
The Grignolino wine have a light ruby red color, tending to orange with aging. Have a characteristic odor and delicate in the mouth are dry, slightly tannic, bitter pleasant, with a characteristic aftertaste.
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Price: £59.00
Stock: 4 in Stock
Grignolino, 1973
Dezzani
Was £89 Clearance | Last Bottle £51.20
The Grignolino wine have a light ruby red color, tending to orange with aging. Have a characteristic odor and delicate in the mouth are dry, slightly tannic, bitter pleasant, with a characteristic aftertaste.
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Price: £51.20
Stock: 1 in Stock
Grumello, 1973
Pellizzati
Clearance Offer | Was £89 | Now £25
Excluded from our guarantee
Grumello is one of five viticultural sub-zones specifically identified as producing Valtellina wines of particularly high quality: the other four are Inferno, Sassella, Maroggia and Valgella.
Grumello is a sub-zone under Valtellina Superiore DOCG, and the vineyards are named after a castle from the 1300s, that is located between the cities of Sondrio and Montagna in the Valtellina valley. Grumello is not a village but an area immediately east of Sondrio, and covers the slopes immediately above the town.
The wines from this area are typically made from the Nebbiolo grape (locally known as Chiavennasca). …
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Price: £25.00
Stock: 16 in Stock
Nebbiolo, 1973
Marchesi di Barolo
Was £99 Clearance | Last Bottle £59.95
The Nebbiolo has a lovely earthy bouquet. The nose has cherries, dark cherries, tar and slight dried rose notes. Complex and layered. Nice acidity. Medium tannins still present. Cherries on the palate too. Nice finish. Great food wine. Nebbiolo is a fickle grape famed as much for its pale appearance as for its tannic character and produces some of the most perfumed and richly flavored wines. Though generally only medium-bodied, the wines possess rose and anise scented aromatics and deep flavors of cherry, orange peel and subtle green herb tones.
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Price: £59.95
Stock: 1 in Stock
Nobile di Montepulciano, 1973
Poderi Boscarelli
Clearance Offer | Was £99 Special Offer £59
Nobile di Montepulciano is a red wine with a Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita status produced in the vineyards surrounding the town of Montepulciano, Italy. The wine is made primarily from the Sangiovese grape varietal (known locally as Prugnolo gentile) (minimum 70%), blended with Canaiolo Nero (10%–20%) and small amounts of other local varieties such as Mammolo. The wine is aged for 2 years (at least 1 year in oak barrels); three years if it is a riserva.
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Price: £59.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Rosso, 1973
Colli Berici, Conti
Very forward nose of leather and cherries, liquorice wild strawberries, ripe plums and pencil .The palate is very nice balance of sweet fruit and acidity.
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Price: £59.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Rosso del Salento, 1973
Giuseppe Calò
Very forward nose of leather and cherries, liquorice wild strawberries, ripe plums and pencil .The palate is very nice balance of sweet fruit and acidity.
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Sangiovese di Romagna, 1973
Luigi Baldrati - Riserva
Was £99 Clearance | Bin Soiled Label £47.90
Good-quality Sangiovese is prized for its high acid, firm tannins and balanced nature. Savory flavors of dark cherries and black stone fruit are characteristic, and may be backed by secondary notes of tomato leaf and dried herbs. The use of oak has become more popular and this coaxes richer flavors from the grapes, tending toward plum and wild raspberry.
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Price: £47.90
Stock: 1 in Stock
Sangue di Giuda, 1973
La Vigna
Intense crimson-red colour and purplish froth with complex aroma of violet, cherry and mixed berries, fizzy, medium bodied wine.
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Price: £59.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Sforzato, 1973
Villa Bianzone
This is the most representative and prestigious wine of the entire Valtellina region. It can be produced in all valleys (from Ardenno to Tirano), but only in hilly, well exposed vineyards having with loose soil and gravel. This wine is obtained from hand-made selection of the best bunches of Nebbiolo-Chiavennasca grapes, which are dried on wooden racks in a well ventilated and dry room, a "Fruttaio", for at least 110 days until late January. During this winter time the climate of the Valtellina region does all the work, drying the grapes. By late January the grapes have lost about 40% of their weight, the berries are dry and their concentrated juice has developed specific and very intense aromatic substances. …
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Price: £139.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Sgreben, 1973
Vinicola Sociale Aldeno
The 1973 Sgreben from Vinicola Sociale Aldeno is a remarkable relic from the Trentino region of northern Italy, offering a rare opportunity to taste a wine that has been patiently resting for over half a century. Vinicola Sociale Aldeno, a cooperative with deep local roots, has long been dedicated to producing wines that capture the Alpine freshness and terroir of the Adige Valley. The 1973 vintage, shaped by the cooler climate of the region, yielded wines with elegance, firm structure, and the potential for graceful ageing—qualities that this mature bottle now displays in abundance.
In the glass, the wine reveals a translucent brick-red core with amber and tawny edges, telling the story of its decades in bottle. …
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Price: £79.00
Stock: 1 in Stock