1976 Wine and Port Vintage
Vintage Summary and Recommendations:
1976 Wine – 50 Year Old Anniversary Wines
Welcome to Vintage Wine & Port’s 1976 wine collection. Now celebrating its 50th anniversary, this is a vintage with real charm and historical significance. Across Europe, the year was shaped by a long, hot summer, and in the best regions this produced wines with character, maturity and lasting appeal. These qualities make 1976 wines and Ports a wonderful choice for a 50th anniversary or milestone birthday gift.In key regions such as Portugal and Bordeaux, well-stored bottles from 1976 can offer beautifully developed flavours and a genuine sense of occasion. Aged Ports from this year are especially appealing, combining richness, balance and drinkability, while the best clarets provide elegant mature structure. Our selection focuses on bottles from trusted producers and well-kept cellars, helping you choose with confidence.
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: Quinta da Devesa 1976 Colheita Port
A beautifully matured single harvest tawny Port with depth, poise and excellent drinkability. Presented in its own gift box, it is a superb choice for a 50th anniversary gift.
Best Value: Rivesaltes 1976 L’Archiviste
A beautifully matured fortified wine offering exceptional value for a 50-year-old vintage. Extended ageing has developed rich notes of dried fruits, caramel and spice, making it a delicious and accessible alternative to Port for a 1976 anniversary gift.
Classic Bordeaux: Chateau Cantemerle, 1976
A mature Haut-Médoc showing the charm of traditional claret, with softened structure and the savoury complexity that comes from long bottle age.
Vintage Port Choice: Messias 1976 Vintage Port
A classic expression of the renowned Douro Valley's terroir and wine making craftsmanship. Elegant and complex with an attractive and good finish.
Fine & Rare Selection: Château Léoville Barton 1976
A rare Second Growth Bordeaux from the renowned Saint-Julien appellation. In a vintage where only the best estates have stood the test of time, Léoville Barton remains one of the most dependable, offering mature cedar notes, refined structure and a true sense of classic claret at 50 years of age.
This Year in History: This Year in History: Fun Fact: The first commercial Concorde flights took off, ushering in supersonic passenger travel. 1976 was also the year of the United States Bicentennial, celebrating 200 years since the Declaration of Independence.
Eurovision Winner: United Kingdom with the song "Save Your Kisses for Me" by Brotherhood of Man
Top Grossing Movie: Rocky
France: 1976 was a warm, dry vintage in France, led by Bordeaux, where the best wines now show classic mature character with finesse and balance.
Read full France vintage report
The 1976 vintage in France was defined by an exceptionally hot and dry summer, which placed considerable stress on the vines and led to uneven results across many regions. Yields were often reduced, and in some cases the wines lacked balance. However, the best producers — particularly in Bordeaux — managed the conditions carefully, producing wines that have matured into elegant and characterful examples of the vintage.
In Bordeaux, the wines are generally lighter in structure than those from great years, with less concentration but a refined, classical style. Now at full maturity, many Left Bank clarets display tertiary characteristics such as cedar, tobacco, leather and earthy notes, alongside softened dark fruit. Tannins have largely resolved, and the best bottles offer a gentle, balanced drinking experience rather than power. As a result, provenance and storage conditions are especially important when selecting a 1976 Bordeaux today.
Sauternes was one of the more successful areas in 1976, benefiting from the warm conditions which helped to concentrate sugars in the grapes. The resulting wines can be rich and expressive, showing developed notes of honey, dried apricot, marmalade and spice. While not as universally long-lived as the greatest vintages, well-stored examples can still provide a deeply satisfying and fully mature sweet wine experience.
Elsewhere in France, the vintage was more variable. Burgundy, in particular, struggled with the heat, and many wines are now past their peak. Overall, 1976 is a vintage where careful selection is essential, but the best bottles — especially from trusted producers and well-maintained cellars — offer charm, maturity and a genuine sense of history at 50 years of age.
Italian: Italy experienced a more challenging vintage in 1976, though the best wines from top producers and favoured sites have developed into fully mature and characterful bottles.
Read full Italy vintage report
The 1976 vintage in Italy was generally inconsistent, with weather conditions varying significantly across regions. Cooler periods and uneven ripening meant that many wines lacked the structure and concentration required for long-term ageing. As a result, a large proportion of wines from this year are now past their peak, particularly those from lesser producers or less favourable vineyard sites.
However, in the hands of skilled producers — especially in regions such as Piedmont and Tuscany — careful vineyard management and selective harvesting allowed for the production of wines with sufficient balance and structure to age. These wines have now reached full maturity and offer a distinctly savoury and evolved profile.
At fifty years of age, the best Italian 1976 wines show developed characteristics of dried cherry, herbs, leather and earthy complexity, with softened tannins and gentle acidity. They are best appreciated for their nuance and tertiary character rather than fruit intensity, appealing to those who enjoy fully mature, traditional styles of wine.
Overall, 1976 in Italy is a vintage where selectivity is essential. Well-stored bottles from reputable producers can provide an interesting and rewarding drinking experience, but expectations should be for subtlety and evolution rather than power or freshness.
Portugal: Portugal experienced an extremely hot and dry vintage in 1976, producing low yields but concentrated and characterful Ports.
Read full Portugal vintage report
The 1976 vintage in Portugal followed the driest winter on record, with drought conditions continuing throughout much of the summer until late August. These challenging conditions significantly reduced yields, resulting in a very small overall production. However, the grapes that were harvested were highly concentrated, leading to wines with notable depth and intensity.
In the Douro, the Ports produced in 1976 are generally full-bodied and rich, with concentrated flavours developed from the dry growing season. While some wines can lack a degree of freshness due to the prolonged heat, the best examples retain balance and structure, offering a powerful yet mature drinking experience.
Vintage Port from 1976 is relatively rare today, but well-preserved bottles from traditional houses such as Messias can still show impressive depth and character. These wines now display fully evolved notes of dried fruits, spice, leather and nutty complexity, making them a compelling and authentic choice for those seeking a true bottle-aged Port from this vintage.
Colheita Ports from this year have also performed particularly well. Extended ageing in cask has allowed these wines to develop exceptional complexity, with notes of dried fruits, caramel, nuts and spice, making them consistently reliable and ready to enjoy.
Overall, 1976 is a vintage where careful selection is key, but both top Vintage Ports and well-aged Colheitas can offer a rewarding and memorable experience. A well-chosen Port from this year makes an excellent and meaningful choice for a 50th anniversary or birthday gift.
80 products found.
Lagrein, 1976
Kellergenossenschaft Kurtatsch
This mature Lagrein comes from Kellergenossenschaft Kurtatsch, a respected cooperative in Alto Adige known for producing characterful wines that reflect the dramatic alpine landscapes of northern Italy. Lagrein, one of the region’s most distinctive indigenous varieties, is prized for its depth of colour and robust structure. After decades of bottle ageing, this 1976 vintage shows a deep garnet-red hue with brick-toned highlights, indicative of its graceful evolution.
On the nose, the wine reveals aromas of dried blackberries, plum compote, dark chocolate, and gentle spice, layered with notes of leather, tobacco, and subtle alpine herbs. …
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Price: £79.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Lessona, 1976
Aziende Agricole Sella Clearance Offer- Damaged Labels Was £89 | Now £59
Overview:
A mature and refined expression of Alto Piemonte Nebbiolo, this 1976 Lessona from Aziende Agricole Sella comes from one of the region’s most historic estates. Grown on mineral-rich, sandy soils that define the appellation’s distinctive finesse, the wine now shows the graceful evolution expected from nearly five decades of careful bottle ageing.
Appearance:
Garnet-red in colour with brick-orange reflections, showing clear tertiary development and elegant maturity.
Nose:
Delicately aromatic and complex, revealing dried red cherry, rose petal, wild strawberry and gentle spice, layered with leather, tobacco leaf and a distinctive mineral edge typical of Lessona’s terroir. …
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Price: £59.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Montepulciano, 1976
d'Abruzzo, Vino del Ceppetto - Guardinani Farvhione
Here’s a fully original, website-ready tasting note for the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, 1976 — Vino del Ceppetto, Guardinani Farvhione, including contextual information and the refined 2–3 day decanting instructions:
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo, 1976 — Vino del Ceppetto, Guardinani Farvhione
This mature Montepulciano d’Abruzzo comes from Vino del Ceppetto, produced by Guardinani Farvhione, a traditional Abruzzese estate celebrated for crafting rich, age-worthy wines that reflect the warmth and character of the region. The 1976 vintage displays a deep ruby-red colour with garnet highlights, showing a graceful evolution over nearly five decades. …
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Price: £89.00
Stock: 4 in Stock
Nebbiolo, 1976
Fontanafredda
This mature Nebbiolo comes from Fontanafredda, one of Barolo’s most historic and esteemed estates, celebrated for producing elegant, age-worthy wines that express the classic structure and finesse of Nebbiolo. The wine displays a deep garnet-red colour with amber highlights, reflecting over forty-five years of careful maturation. On the nose, it offers aromas of dried red cherries, rose petal, gentle spice, leather, and subtle earthy notes of forest floor and tobacco. The palate is refined and balanced, with softened yet structured tannins supporting flavours of candied cherry, orange zest, hints of truffle, and cedar. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Nebbiolo, 1976
Francesco Poncini
This mature Nebbiolo comes from Francesco Poncini, a historic Piedmontese producer known for crafting structured, elegant wines that showcase the classic character of Nebbiolo. The 1976 vintage displays a deep garnet-red colour with amber highlights, reflecting over forty-five years of careful maturation.
On the nose, it reveals aromas of dried red cherries, rose petal, gentle spice, leather, and subtle earthy notes of forest floor and tobacco. The palate is refined and harmonious, with softened yet structured tannins supporting flavours of candied cherry, orange peel, hints of truffle, and cedar. …
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Price: £89.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Nebbiolo, 1976
Angelo Gaja - I Faggiani d'Oro
The Nebbiolo 1976 Angelo Gaja “I Faggiani d’Oro” is a rare historic red wine from the Langhe region in Piedmont, Italy. Produced by Angelo Gaja, it is made from Nebbiolo grapes and reflects the estate’s traditional production phase in the 1970s, before its full transition to the more modern and internationally recognized style of later decades.
Tasting notes:
The 1976 vintage is now fully mature and deeply tertiary. The nose opens with aromas of dried rose petals, sour cherry, dried plum, leather, tobacco leaf, forest floor, and truffle-like earthy notes. With aeration, further complexity develops, including dried herbs, spice, cedarwood, and balsamic nuances. …
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Price: £129.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Nebbiolo D'Alba, 1976
Vietti
This mature Nebbiolo d’Alba comes from Vietti, one of the most esteemed estates in Piedmont, celebrated for producing elegant and age-worthy Nebbiolo wines that express the classic character of the Alba zone. The 1976 vintage displays a deep garnet-red colour with amber highlights, reflecting nearly five decades of careful maturation.
On the nose, it reveals aromas of dried red cherries, rose petal, gentle spice, leather, and subtle earthy notes of forest floor and tobacco. The palate is refined and harmonious, with softened yet structured tannins supporting flavours of candied cherry, orange peel, hints of truffle, and cedar. …
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Price: £129.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Nebbiolo D'Alba, 1976
Rossello - La Castella
Special Offer | Was £89 | Now £69
Offer ends 30th June
This mature Nebbiolo d’Alba comes from Rossello — La Castella, a traditional Piedmontese estate celebrated for producing elegant, structured wines that highlight the classic character of Nebbiolo from the Alba region. The 1976 vintage displays a deep garnet-red colour with amber highlights, reflecting nearly five decades of careful maturation.
On the nose, it offers aromas of dried red cherries, rose petal, gentle spice, leather, and subtle earthy notes of forest floor and tobacco. The palate is refined and harmonious, with softened yet structured tannins supporting flavours of candied cherry, orange peel, hints of truffle, and cedar. …
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Pinot Nero, 1976
Collavini
Pinot Nero 1976 Collavini is a historic red wine from Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy, produced by the estate Collavini. Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir) in this region is typically crafted in a restrained, elegant style, influenced by cooler Alpine-Adriatic conditions and focused on finesse rather than power.
The 1976 bottling reflects a traditional winemaking approach, with aging aimed at gradual bottle evolution and aromatic development over time.
Tasting Notes:
Brick-garnet color with orange reflections. Dried cherry, red berries, rose petals, and subtle orange peel.
Leather, tobacco, earthy forest floor, and light spice notes. …
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Price: £89.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Quinta do Noval
Quinta do Noval 50-Year Old Tawny Port
In Gift Case
Quinta do Noval 50-Year-Old Tawny Port
After fifty years of meticulous ageing in seasoned oak barrels, this extraordinary Tawny Port has evolved into a wine of rare depth, complexity, and purity. The prolonged maturation process, under the constant care of the Quinta do Noval technical team, results in a profound sensory experience, crafted for the sophisticated connoisseur who seeks the exceptional.
Winemaking & Terroir
This Port is made exclusively from grapes grown in Quinta do Noval, Vale de Mendiz, in the heart of the Douro Valley, using a traditional multivarietal field blend. Key grape varieties include Touriga Nacional, …
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Price: £395.00
Stock: 6 in Stock
Quinta do Noval, 1976
Colheita Port- Bottled 1994
Half Bottle (37.5cl)
1976 Quinta do Noval Colheita Tawny Port (Half Bottle)
Overview:
A beautifully mature single-harvest Colheita Port from the historic Quinta do Noval, one of the Douro Valley’s most iconic estates. The 1976 vintage has spent decades ageing in seasoned oak cask before bottling, developing the refined oxidative complexity that defines great Colheita Ports. Now fully mature, this half-bottle release offers a concentrated and elegant expression of aged Tawny-style Port at its peak.
Appearance:
Deep amber-brown with golden-brick highlights at the rim, showing extensive oxidative ageing and clarity. …
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Price: £159.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Recioto, 1976
F.lli Farina, Sweet Red Wine
1976 F.lli Farina Recioto della Valpolicella
Overview:
A mature and expressive Recioto della Valpolicella from historic Veneto producer F.lli Farina, this 1976 vintage is crafted from partially dried grapes using the traditional appassimento method. The result is a rich, sweet wine with remarkable concentration and balance, now showing the graceful evolution of nearly five decades in bottle while retaining its distinctive dessert-wine character.
Appearance:
Deep ruby-red in colour with garnet highlights, reflecting mature development and long bottle ageing. …
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Price: £129.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Refosco, 1976
Casa Vinicola S. Osvaldo Double Magnum Bottle (300cl)
1976 Casa Vinicola S. Osvaldo Refosco (Double Magnum 3.0L)
Overview:
A rare and mature Refosco from historic Friulian producer Casa Vinicola S. Osvaldo, this 1976 double magnum (3.0L) shows the exceptional ageing potential of large-format bottles. Produced from the indigenous Refosco grape, it reflects the traditional style of Friuli: structured in youth, deeply savoury with age, and now fully evolved after nearly five decades in bottle. The magnum format has contributed to a notably slow, graceful development, preserving freshness alongside tertiary complexity. …
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Price: £329.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Remoissenet Pere and Fils, 1976
Premier Cru Les Gravieres, Santenay, Burgundy
1976 Santenay
Overview:
A mature red Burgundy from the Côte de Beaune, the 1976 Santenay comes from a warm vintage that produced accessible, early-maturing styles. Now fully evolved, it shows the graceful, tertiary expression of aged Pinot Noir, with softened fruit and a gentle savoury complexity.
Appearance:
Light garnet in colour with brick-orange highlights at the rim, showing full maturity and delicate evolution.
Nose:
Evolved and expressive, revealing red cherry, dried strawberry and cranberry, with rose petal, tea leaf and subtle umami savoury notes. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Rioja, 1976
Faustino Martinez- Reserva
1976 Faustino Martinez Rioja Reserva
Overview:
A mature Rioja Reserva from historic producer Faustino Martinez, this 1976 vintage reflects the traditional style of classic Rioja winemaking, where extended oak ageing and long bottle maturation shape a wine of refinement and tertiary complexity. Predominantly Tempranillo-based, it now shows the evolved character expected from a well-aged Reserva from this era.
Appearance:
Deep garnet-brick in colour with amber reflections at the rim, showing full maturity and extended evolution. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Riviera del Garda Rosso, 1976
Zuliani Emilio
The Riviera del Garda 1976 Zuliani Emilio is a rare historic white wine from northern Italy, produced in the area of Riviera del Garda. It reflects traditional winemaking styles typical of the 1970s in the Lake Garda region, where white wines were often crafted for local consumption, emphasizing simplicity, freshness, and subtle evolution over time.
Tasting notes:
The 1976 vintage is now fully mature, showing clear tertiary and gently oxidative development. The nose reveals aromas of dried pear, yellow apple, chamomile, hay, almond, and light honeyed notes. With air, additional nuances of wax, dried herbs, and wet stone minerality may appear. …
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Price: £79.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Sandeman
50 Year Old Tawny Port
***95 Points- GOLD- Decanter 2023***
Beautiful pale tawny in colour. The 50-Year-Old Tawny is exceptionally pronounced and complex in aroma profile. Intense aromas of dried fruits, roasted walnuts, toffee and spice burst out of the glass. Velvety smooth on the palate, with a bright acidity keeping the decadent flavours on the straight and narrow and all culminating in a deliciously lingering finish.
There are few more iconic images in the world of wine than the ‘Don’, the logo created for the Sandeman family in 1928 by George Massiot Brown. The cape was modelled on the attire worn by university students in Porto, while the wide-brimmed hat was a nod to the family’s presence in Jerez. …
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Price: £289.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Spanna, 1976
Umberto Fiore Special Offer | Was £99 | Now £75
1976 Umberto Fiore Spanna
Overview:
A mature Spanna from historic Piedmontese producer Umberto Fiore, this 1976 vintage is made from the local Nebbiolo clone traditionally known as Spanna. Now approaching five decades of age, it shows the elegant, tertiary expression typical of well-aged Alto Piemonte Nebbiolo, with lifted aromatics and refined savoury complexity.
Appearance:
Deep garnet in colour with brick-orange highlights at the rim, reflecting slow and graceful maturation.
Nose:
Evolved and aromatic, revealing dried red cherry, rose petal and redcurrant, layered with leather, tobacco leaf and gentle spice. …
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Price: £75.00
Stock: 5 in Stock
Spanna, 1976
Santachiara - Antoniolo
This mature Spanna comes from Santachiara, part of the esteemed Antoniolo estate in Piedmont, celebrated for producing structured and elegant Nebbiolo-based wines that showcase the classic character of the region. The 1976 vintage displays a deep garnet-red colour with brick-orange highlights, reflecting nearly five decades of careful bottle ageing.
On the nose, it reveals aromas of dried red cherries, rose petal, gentle spice, leather, and subtle earthy notes of forest floor and tobacco. The palate is refined and harmonious, with softened yet structured tannins supporting flavours of candied cherry, orange zest, hints of truffle, and cedar. …
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Price: £119.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Spanna, 1976
Dellavalle
Spanna 1976 Dellavalle è un vino rosso storico dell’Alto Piemonte, prodotto dalla cantina Dellavalle. Con “Spanna” si indica localmente il Nebbiolo, spesso interpretato in stile tradizionale nelle zone di Gattinara e aree limitrofe, dove il vitigno esprime un profilo più austero, fresco e minerale rispetto alle Langhe.
Le versioni di questa epoca seguono generalmente vinificazioni classiche: fermentazioni tradizionali, affinamento in grandi botti di rovere neutro e lunga evoluzione in bottiglia.
Tasting Notes:
Colore granato mattone con riflessi aranciati. Ciliegia secca, rosa appassita, lampone e piccoli frutti rossi. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Spanna, 1976
Valsesia
Spanna 1976 Valsesia è un vino rosso storico dell’Alto Piemonte, prodotto nell’area della Valsesia, una delle zone montane e prealpine dove il Nebbiolo (localmente chiamato Spanna) esprime uno stile più fresco, teso e minerale rispetto alle Langhe.
La Valsesia fa parte del più ampio mosaico del nord Piemonte, caratterizzato da suoli acidi, forte escursione termica e viticoltura spesso eroica su colline e pendii, che contribuisce a vini di grande finezza e struttura nervosa.
Il 1976 è interpretato in stile tradizionale, con fermentazioni classiche, affinamento in grandi botti neutre e lunga evoluzione in bottiglia. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Taylor Fladgate, 1976
Single Harvest Colheita Port
1976 Taylor single Harvest / Colheita
Taylor’s is renowned for holding one of the largest reserves of very old, cask-aged Ports, giving them unrivalled access to rare and exceptional Single Harvest releases. Each of these Ports comes from a single vintage and is slowly matured to peak perfection in seasoned oak casks, proudly carrying its harvest year on the label. Every year, Taylor’s offers a strictly limited release of a Single Harvest Port aged for 50 years — highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts alike. The latest release in this prestigious series is the superb 1976 Single Harvest: a unique opportunity to own and enjoy a perfectly aged Port from this landmark year. …
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Price: £295.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Torricella, 1976
Trebbiano, Zuliani Emilio
The Trebbiano della Torricella 1976 Zuliani Emilio is a rare historic white wine from central Italy, produced in a traditional style typical of older Trebbiano-based winemaking. It reflects a period when Trebbiano was often crafted for longevity and regional expression rather than modern aromatic intensity.
Tasting notes:
The 1976 vintage is now fully mature and evolved, showing a clear tertiary profile. The nose opens with aromas of dried apple, candied citrus peel, chamomile, hay, almond skin, and subtle honeyed notes. With aeration, deeper nuances of wax, dried herbs, and earthy undertones may emerge. …
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Price: £59.00
Stock: 4 in Stock
Maynard's Port
50 Year Old Tawny Port in Decanter
Exclusive to VWP
The Maynard's 50 year old tawny is our latest addition to our 50 year old Port line-up. Maynard's is renowned for its excellent quality at outstanding value and this 50 year old gem is no exception! This is also a UK exclusive for VWP.
Named after the first established English Port wine shipper in Oporto, Walter Maynard, this aged Port has been blended from historic stocks of tawny Port to give an average age of 50 years and is released under the new 50 year old tawny Port category.
Presented in a decanter, this is a powerful port with complex nuttiness aromas in harmony with spicy notes, warm roasted coffee and cinnamon hints from the long contact with oak wood during the ageing process. …
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Price: £129.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Chateau Branaire-Ducru, 1976
St Julien, 4th Growth Classification
The 1976 Château Branaire-Ducru is a fascinating example of a Bordeaux wine from a year marked by extreme weather conditions. As a Fourth Growth estate in the Saint-Julien appellation, Branaire-Ducru is known for its refined and well-balanced wines, and this vintage was shaped by an unusually hot and dry summer. The intense heat led to thick grape skins and high tannin levels, resulting in bold and structured wines across the region. However, rain during the harvest introduced some dilution in certain cases, leading to a mixed vintage overall.
Upon release, the 1976 Branaire-Ducru displayed a medium ruby hue, with aromas of ripe fruit, spicy oak, caramel, and hints of toffee. …
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Price: £149.00
Stock: Out of Stock