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1980 Wine and Port Vintage

 
Vintage Summary and Recommendations:


1980-wine-gifts

Welcome to Vintage Wine and Port's 1980 wine page. Read on for our summary of the 1980 vintage, our top recommendations and region reports. Scroll down to see all of our wines currently available. If you cannot find what you are looking for please call us on 01425 837177 or Contact Us. We would love to help you with your wine choice!

The 1980 vintage was not a great one overall, with few hits across the wine world and even then it never quite went above being strictly average. The biggest disappointments lay in the Old World, particularly in the French regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne, which saw very few great wines produced. Although some good Rhône Valley, Spanish and Port wines were made. Any of these wines would make a fabulous 45 year old wine gift for an Anniversary or birthday.


Our Wine Expert currently recommends the following wines for this year:

  • Ryst Dupeyron Armagnac 1980 Reserve Joseph Millesime vintage Armagnac
  • Bodegas Toro Albala 1980 Don PX Seleccion
  • Quinta Das Carvalhas 1980 Colheita Port – with gift tube
  • Barolo 1980 Giordano

  •  
    This Year in History: Fun Fact: Tennis player Venus Williams was born.
    Eurovision Winner: Ireland with the song "What's Another Year" by Johnny Logan
    Top Grossing Movie: Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire Strikes Back
     
    Bordeaux: The 1980 wine vintage produced wines of variable quality from Bordeaux. A very wet, cool year resulted in wines that were light and diluted. Nevertheless, some producers who operated a strict selection policy still managed to produce acceptable wines.
     
    Champagne: In Champagne, the 1980 is an exceptionally fine, rich vintage.
     
    Italian: 1980 for Italian wines was a very good year. The wines are generally quite consistent and there are some great Barolo wines from Piedmont. The wines have reached full maturity but will last for a few more years.
     
    Portugal: The 1980 Port vintage is rated as outstanding and was generally declared vintage. Over time the 1980 Ports have been hugely under-rated book-ended by the great 1977 and large abundant 1983 and 1985 vintages. This vintage is ready now but will continue to develop and keep for decades, making them the perfect wine gift for a birthday or anniversary. An unusually early spring was followed by an extremely dry growing season and sugar readings were on the low side when picking began a week or so later than normal, at the end of September.

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    50 products found.

    Madeira, 1980

    di Savorgnana, Podere del Sole

    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: £49.00
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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    Gamay, 1980

    di Savorgnana, Podere del Sole

    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: £49.00
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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    Sizzano, 1980

    Francesco Fontana
    *** Special Offer- Was £69 | Now £50 ***

    The wines Sizzano must be made from grapes coming from the following varieties: Nebbiolo (Span): 50-70%; Vespolina and Uva Rara (Bonarda Novarese) alone or in combination 30-50%. Colour: ruby red with garnet; Bouquet: vinous, typical, with hints of violet, fine and pleasant; Flavour: dry, full-bodied and harmonious with a slightly bitter aftertaste; Aging: "Sizzano": at least 22 months of which at least 18 in wood; "Sizzano Reserve": at least 34 months of which at least 24 in wood.
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    Price: £50.00
    Stock: 6 in Stock

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    Cirò, 1980

    Vinicola Zino

    The Ciro has a pale ruby colour. 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.
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    Price: £59.00
    Stock: 8 in Stock

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    Castel del Monte, 1980

    Centrale Cantine Coop Bari

    Castel del Monte is a DOC of the Puglia wine region in south-eastern Italy. In a region where only a small proportion of vineyards take up the DOC titles to which they are entitled, Castel del Monte is one of the more promising. The 'Castle on the Hill' referred to in the name is precisely that - an octagonal fortification built in the 13th century which overlooks the landscape for miles around. The castle itself has less of a promising future than the wines made in its name, as over the centuries it has been used as a prison, a plague shelter and finally a source of marble and stone for opportunistic locals.
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    Price: £59.00
    Stock: 2 in Stock

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    Cabernet Sauvignon (I), 1980

    di Ancarano, Castello di Acarano Vigevani

    A classic red Italian wine made from the Cabernet Sauvignon grape. The wine has aged to produce a garnet core with a clear rim. Lots of oak, leather and soft tannins remain.
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    Price: £59.00
    Stock: 3 in Stock

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    Toro Albalá, 1980

    Don PX Seleccion 1980, D.O.P. Montilla-Moriles | 20cl Bottle in gift pack
    ***97 Points - Wine Advocate*** <

    Pedro Ximénez (often abbreviated as PX) is a sweet, fortified wine primarily produced in Spain, especially in the regions of Jerez (Sherry) and Montilla-Moriles. It is made from the Pedro Ximénez grape, which is sun-dried to concentrate its sugars before fermentation. The result is a wine that is intensely sweet, rich, and dark, with a syrupy texture.

    Often described as "dessert in a glass," PX wines are bursting with flavors of raisins, molasses, dried figs, caramel, chocolate, and nuts like toasted almonds or hazelnuts. The wine’s sweetness is balanced by its complex and layered profile, making it a luxurious treat for the palate.
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    Price: £65.00
    Stock: 52 in Stock

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    Chateau Batailley, 1980

    Pauillac 5th Growth Classification

    1980 Château Batailley – A Mature Pauillac from a Challenging Vintage
    The 1980 Château Batailley comes from a vintage that tested Bordeaux winemakers due to cool, wet conditions throughout the growing season. Château Batailley, a fifth-growth estate in Pauillac, is known for producing structured, Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wines that traditionally age well. However, 1980 was not a strong vintage, with a late and difficult harvest leading to wines that were generally lighter in body and acidity-driven rather than deeply concentrated.

    Now, more than 40 years later, any well-preserved bottle of 1980 Château Batailley will have evolved into a delicate, fully mature wine.
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    Price: £66.00
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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    Chianti, 1980

    Geografico

    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: £69.00
    Stock: 3 in Stock

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    Franciacorta, 1980

    Catturich

    Franciacorta is a wine from the Province of Brescia (Lombardy) with DOCG status produced from grapes grown within the boundaries of the territory of Franciacorta, on the hills located between the southern shore of Lake Iseo and the city of Brescia. It was awarded DOC status in 1967, the designation then also including red and white still wines.
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    Price: £69.00
    Stock: 8 in Stock

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    Sassella, 1980

    Nera

    Valtellina Superiore Sassella wines are made under the Valtellina Superiore DOCG, specifically from grapes grown in the village of Sassella. Sassella is one of five viticultural sub-zones specifically identified as producing Valtellina wines of particularly high quality: the other four are Grumello, Inferno, Maroggia and Valgella. Sassella is considered to be the finest of these, and the pinnacle of the Valtellina viticultural zone.
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    Price: £69.00
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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    Cabernet, 1980

    Friulvini

    An Italian red wine made by blending the international grape varieties merlot and cabernet. 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

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    Rioja, 1980

    Torres Coronas, Rioja

    The Torres Coronas 1980 is a remarkable piece of Spanish winemaking history, produced by the renowned Familia Torres in the Penedès region of Catalonia. As one of the oldest and most established names in Spanish wine, Torres has long been associated with quality and tradition. The Coronas label, known for its dependable Tempranillo-based reds, represents the family’s deep-rooted commitment to excellence and innovation. The 1980 vintage hails from a time when Spanish wines were gaining increasing international recognition, making this bottle not only a rare find but also a historical artefact.

    This particular bottle features bin-soiled labels,
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    Price: £69.00
    Stock: 2 in Stock

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    Montepulciano, 1980

    d'Abruzzo, Vecchio Colle

    Montepulciano is a red wine grape variety grown widely in central Italy, most notably its eastern Abruzzo, Marche and Molise regions. The variety was named after the Tuscan parish of Montepulciano, but, confusingly, is not used in the famous wines produced there (see Vino Nobile di Montepulciano). Globally appreciated for their soft flavors, strong color and gentle tannins, Montepulciano wines are typically best consumed in their youth and with food. The deep-purple juice of Montepulciano grapes is used in varying proportions to produce wines under roughly 50 of Italy's DOC and DOCG titles. Although sometimes used on its own,
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    Price: £69.00
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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    Lago di Caldaro, 1980

    G. Kettmeir

    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: 1 in Stock

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    Nebbiolo D'Alba, 1980

    Poderi Scanavino

    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: £79.00
    Stock: 4 in Stock

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    Domaine Cazes, 1980

    Domaine Cazes Vin Doux Naturel, Rivesaltes, Languedoc Roussillon

    This is a sweet red wine from the South of France. It is part of a historic collection of marvelous wines, whose aromatic range evokes the heady days of Rivesaltes AOC of the mid 20th Century. Can match perfectly from aperitif to digestif, wonderful with cheese.
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    Price: £89.00
    Stock: 3 in Stock

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    Recioto, 1980

    Tommasi
    Clearance Offer - Last Bottle | Was £129 | Now £95

    "Recioto," as in "Recioto della Valpolicella," refers to a dessert wine made from grapes that were dried on mats after picking. This process turns the grapes closer to raisins, concentrating the flavors. The wines are lovely and taste how you'd expect raisins-turned-wine to taste, rich and sweet.
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    Price: £95.00
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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    Jacob Gerhardt Neirsteiner Schlosskellerein, 1980

    Jacob Gerhardt Neirsteiner Schlosskellerein, Auslese Rheinhessen
    Sweet White Wine

    The 1980 Eiswein is a sweet dessert wine produced from grapes that have been frozen while still on the vine. The sugars and other dissolved solids do not freeze, but the water does, allowing for a more concentrated grape juice to develop.

    The high residual sugar concentration give these wines great ageing properties - we tasted this bottle over two days. Served chilled from the fridge after a 4 hour decant. The colour is a light-amber with green tinge around the rim of the glass. Fresher than another bottle from a different region. There are honey notes, apricots and sultana notes on the nose.
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    Price: £99.95
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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    Barolo, 1980

    Pio Cesare, Piedmont

    Barolo is known as the 'king of wines' and is made from the Nebbiolo grape. Heady aromas of rose, leather, vanilla, cherry, pepper, cranberry, strawberry. Fruits are perfectly knitted with the tannins and acidity. It's a powerful wine but remarkably subtle. Don't underestimate it and certainly serve it with food to show at it's best. Nebbiolo has naturally high tannins and acidity, so it will take on full-flavoured, rich foods no problem at all.
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    Price: £119.00
    Stock: 2 in Stock

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    Messias, 1980

    Colheita Port, Douro

    The 1980 Messias Colheita port is well-regarded for its balanced sweetness and complex profile, making it a great choice for those who enjoy tawny and colheita style ports.

    Tasting notes:
    Pale Tawny wine, with personalized aromatic evolution, with well defined tertiary aromas, enhancing a noble wood with vanillas, good and elegant presence of the “Vinagrinho”, noble volatile acidity, and spices, mild notes of pepper and clove with a slight nutmeg touch. At taste is powerful and fresh revealing well its age, delighting us with its long after taste.

    Serving & Food Pairing
    Colheita Ports are ready-to drink and do not require decanting.
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    Price: £119.00
    Stock: 39 in Stock

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    Blandys, 1980

    Sercial
    HALF BOTTLE 37.5cl

    The 1980 Blandys Sercial Madeira is "Based on Sercial grown on the north west corner of the island at Seixal and Porto Moniz where I am told that this grape produces the most gentle fruit: lovely clean, lifted aromas, green fruit, apple peel with a touch of citrus; lovely fresh appley flavours with a hint of toffee and milk-chocolate, perhaps just a touch of salinity, steely acidity running all the way through, fresh and lithe on the finish, dry but not austerely so with 55g/l of residual sugar. Just 800 bottles in total."
    Score: 18 Richard Mayson, richardmayson.com, January 2019
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    Price: £119.00
    Stock: 2 in Stock

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    Barbaresco, 1980

    M. Mascarello & Figli

    Barbaresco is one of the great wines of Italy's north-western Piedmont region. This aristocratic red has its vineyards situated in the Langhe, on the right-hand side of the Tanaro river and extending from the area north-east of Alba to the communes of Barbaresco, Neive and Treiso. The dominant variety grown is Nebbiolo, but Dolcetto and Barbera also play a part. The vines are generally grown on limestone-rich marl soils. similar to the Tortonium soils of the Barolo and La Morra areas in Barolo. Similar to its more famous sibling Barolo, Barbaresco is made from 100% Nebbiolo and shares its cult status as one of the finest wines in the world.
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    Price: £119.00
    Stock: 2 in Stock

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    Fonseca Port, 1980

    Vintage Port

    The Fonseca 1980 Vintage Port is a distinguished wine from a vintage that, while not as widely celebrated as some others, has matured gracefully over the decades. Fonseca, renowned for its rich and opulent style, produced a Port in 1980 that offers a unique tasting experience, reflecting both the house's signature characteristics and the nuances of the vintage year.​

    In the glass, the 1980 Fonseca displays a pale garnet hue, indicative of its age. The nose is aromatic, with notes of herbs, lavender, and strawberry syrup. On the palate, it presents flavors of redcurrants, raisins, and a spicy mid-palate, culminating in a sweet aftertaste dominated by Seville orange marmalade and a hint of bitter coffee.
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    Price: £119.00
    Stock: 3 in Stock

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    Barbaresco, 1980

    Giuseppe Contratto

    Barbaresco is one of the great wines of Italy's north-western Piedmont region. This aristocratic red has its vineyards situated in the Langhe, on the right-hand side of the Tanaro river and extending from the area north-east of Alba to the communes of Barbaresco, Neive and Treiso. The dominant variety grown is Nebbiolo, but Dolcetto and Barbera also play a part. The vines are generally grown on limestone-rich marl soils. similar to the Tortonium soils of the Barolo and La Morra areas in Barolo. Similar to its more famous sibling Barolo, Barbaresco is made from 100% Nebbiolo and shares its cult status as one of the finest wines in the world.
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    Price: £129.00
    Stock: 1 in Stock

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