1981 Wine and Port Vintage

Orazio Bagnasco

Brunello di Montalcino 1981 – Orazio Bagnasco

The 1981 Brunello di Montalcino from Orazio Bagnasco is a beautifully mature and traditional expression of Sangiovese, offering elegance, complexity and gentle power after decades of ageing. The colour shows a soft garnet core with brick-orange hues at the rim, highlighting its graceful evolution.

On the nose, the wine is deeply aromatic and layered. Dried cherry, red plum and cranberry are supported by notes of leather, tobacco, forest floor and dried herbs. Subtle hints of balsamic, cedar, orange peel and gentle spice add further refinement and depth. …
more >>>

Price: £129.00
Stock: 7 in Stock

Argiano

Brunello di Montalcino 1981 – Argiano

The 1981 Brunello di Montalcino from Argiano is a classic, traditionally styled wine that now shows the full beauty of long ageing. The colour has softened to a translucent garnet with brick-orange highlights at the rim, reflecting its graceful maturity.

The nose is complex and elegant, offering aromas of dried cherry, redcurrant and plum, layered with leather, tobacco, forest floor and dried Mediterranean herbs. Subtle notes of balsamic, orange peel, cedar and gentle spice add further depth and refinement.

On the palate, the wine is smooth, poised and beautifully balanced. …
more >>>

Price: £169.00
Stock: 2 in Stock

Simon

Cabernet 1981 – Simon (Italy)

The 1981 Cabernet from Simon is a rare and fascinating example of mature Italian Cabernet, showing how beautifully the variety can evolve outside its traditional French strongholds. The colour has softened to a deep garnet with amber highlights at the rim, reflecting its long and careful ageing.

The bouquet is complex, elegant and gently savoury. Aromas of dried blackcurrant, cassis and stewed plum are layered with notes of cedar, old leather, tobacco leaf and dried herbs. Hints of balsamic, forest floor and gentle spice add further depth, giving the nose a distinctly Italian character. …
more >>>

Price: £49.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

St Julien 4me cru classe

The 1981 Château Beychevelle is a beautifully mature Saint-Julien, offering the elegance and classic balance for which the estate is known. In the glass, it shows a soft garnet-brick colour with a fading rim, reflecting over four decades of gentle evolution.

The nose is refined and inviting, with aromas of dried redcurrant, cedar, tobacco leaf, and a touch of graphite. As it opens, notes of leather, dried herbs, and subtle forest floor nuances emerge—hallmarks of well-aged Left Bank claret.

On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied and harmonious, with fully resolved tannins and a silky, mellow texture. …
more >>>

Price: £129.00
Stock: 11 in Stock

St Julien, 4th Growth Classification

The 1981 Branaire is quite forward, precociously supple, and fruity. The bouquet is showing expansive, complex, chocolatey, cedary components.

About Chateau Branaire Ducru Château Branaire-Ducru is a renowned wine estate located in the Saint-Julien appellation of the Bordeaux region in France. It is classified as a Fourth Growth (Quatrième Grand Cru Classé) in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, which highlights its longstanding reputation for quality. The estate spans approximately 60 hectares of vineyards, planted mainly with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. …
more >>>

Price: £99.00
Stock: 8 in Stock

St Estephe, 2nd Growth Classification

The 1981 Cos d'Estournel is a deep ruby colour, with a spicy, rich, briery, tightly knit bouquet, this wine is deeper and more promising than the 1983, but relatively light, compact, and lean.

Château Cos d'Estournel is a prestigious wine estate located in the Saint-Estèphe appellation of Bordeaux, France. Established in the early 19th century by Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel, the estate is renowned for its grand architectural style, including the iconic pagodas that distinguish its winery. Covering approximately 100 hectares, the vineyard benefits from a unique terroir of gravel and clay soils, ideal for cultivating Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. …
more >>>

Price: £129.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

Pauillac 5th Growth Classification

​Château Croizet-Bages, a fifth-growth estate in Bordeaux's Pauillac appellation, has a history dating back to the 18th century. The 1981 vintage, while not among the most celebrated years in Bordeaux, offers a unique opportunity to experience a mature expression of this estate's wine.​

Specific tasting notes for the 1981 Château Croizet-Bages are limited, reflecting the vintage's modest reputation. However, given the wine's age, it's likely to exhibit tertiary aromas such as leather, tobacco, and earthy notes, with softened tannins and a harmonious palate. It's important to note that individual bottle conditions can vary, especially with wines of this age. …
more >>>

Price: £79.95
Stock: 10 in Stock

St Julien, 2eme Growth Classification

The 1981 Ducru Beaucailiou has a very intense red; nose of berries, nice claret bouquet; good fruit on the palate, broad; initially quite green - not a great vintage but quite acceptable.

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, located in the renowned Saint-Julien appellation of Bordeaux, France, is an iconic estate celebrated for its exceptional wines and illustrious history. Dating back to the 18th century, this historic property has been meticulously tended by generations of the Borie family, who have upheld a tradition of excellence in winemaking. Situated on gravelly soils along the Gironde River, …
more >>>

Price: £149.00
Stock: 5 in Stock

Saint-Emilion- Grand Cru Classe

Château La Dominique 1981 – Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé

The 1981 vintage in Saint-Émilion produced wines of finesse and balance rather than power, and Château La Dominique has evolved into a beautifully resolved and elegant mature Bordeaux.

In the glass, it displays a soft garnet core with amber tones at the rim, reflecting its long and graceful ageing. The bouquet is complex and refined, with aromas of dried red fruits, stewed plum, cedar, tobacco leaf, and subtle notes of leather and forest floor.

The palate is fully mature and harmonious, showing silky tannins and a gently rounded structure. …
more >>>

Price: £69.95
Stock: 11 in Stock

Pessac Leognan Cru Classe

1981 Château La Mission Haut-Brion offers a beautifully classical expression of mature Graves from a more understated, old-school Bordeaux vintage. Now over forty years in bottle, it has moved into a fully evolved phase where complexity, savoury depth and refinement take precedence over power, showing the estate’s hallmark gravelly elegance.

In the glass, it displays a brick-garnet core with a wide, amber-tinted rim. The nose is refined and deeply tertiary: dried redcurrant and soft cassis mingle with cedar, cigar box, pipe tobacco and cool earth. Signature smoky, mineral notes of warm stones and faint embers drift through the bouquet, …
more >>>

Price: £245.00
Stock: 6 in Stock

St Julien 2eme Cru Classe

The 1981 Château Léoville Las Cases is a beautifully mature Saint-Julien that showcases the estate’s trademark precision, classical structure, and quiet power even in a more understated vintage. In the glass, it reveals a deep garnet core fading to brick at the rim, reflecting its graceful evolution over more than four decades.

The nose is refined and complex, offering aromas of dried blackcurrant, cedar, graphite, and tobacco leaf—classic Las Cases character. With time, subtler notes of old leather, violets, forest floor, and warm spices emerge, adding depth and a sense of dignified maturity. …
more >>>

Price: £149.00
Stock: 3 in Stock

St Julien 2me Growth Classification

A deep tawny rim with a mahogany core. This has a delightful nose, very good intensity with notes of cooked meats, roasted chestnut, toffee and a touch of marzipan. It smells as if it is from a hot vintage! After five minutes in the glass, it become a little muffled but develops a touch of mint. The palate certainly has more fruit concentration than the 1980, a rounded texture, quite sharp acidity with notes of sour cherry, a touch of leather and a dry, rather gamey, but attenuated finish. Not bad for a 1981.

Château Léoville Poyferré is a prestigious wine estate located in the Saint-Julien appellation of Bordeaux, France. …
more >>>

Price: £165.00
Stock: 6 in Stock

Fattoria Pieve a Pitiana

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.
more >>>

Price: £79.00
Stock: 3 in Stock

Vecchia Cantina Montepulciano
Clearance Offer – Last Bottle Was £99 Now £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.
more >>>

Price: £45.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

Poliziano

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.
more >>>

Price: £99.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

Pian d'Albola MAGNUM 1.5L

Tuscan wine (Italian Toscana) is Italian wine from the Tuscany region. Located in central Italy along the Tyrrhenian coast, Tuscany is home to some of the world's most notable wine regions. 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.

more >>>

Price: £129.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

Sercial Madeira

Raisins, plums, walnuts and a hint of prunes in this wonderful Madeira. The scent fills the room as soon as it is open. Pouring it into the glass you notice the crystal clear golden brown color with hints of red. You swirl and smell, noticing the raisins and the walnuts. You take a sip, the flavors of raisins and plums fills the front of your mouth, not too sweet. You swish and swallow, the walnuts taking over in the back of the mouth. The taste lingers…
more >>>

Price: £159.00
Stock: 8 in Stock

d'Abruzzo, Valle d'Oro Tollo

A Mature Classic from Abruzzo
The 1981 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Valle d'Oro Tollo offers a rare glimpse into the age-worthy potential of one of Italy’s most beloved regional reds. Valle d'Oro, produced by the cooperative winery Tollo, is known for showcasing Montepulciano’s robust fruit and approachable style, while still emphasizing balance and authenticity. This bottle represents a traditional expression from a time when Abruzzo wines were primarily enjoyed young but occasionally crafted to age gracefully.

A Vintage of Brightness and Elegance
The 1981 vintage in central Italy was marked by moderate temperatures and a balanced growing season, resulting in wines with bright acidity, moderate alcohol, and well-defined fruit. …
more >>>

Price: £79.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

d'Abbruzo, Dragani - Riserva -Double Magnum 3L

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, …
more >>>

Price: £195.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

Villa Argiano

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.
more >>>

Price: £79.00
Stock: 2 in Stock

Avignonesi
Clearance Offer – Last Bottle Was £89 Now £35

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.
more >>>

Price: £35.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

Fanetti - Riserva

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.
more >>>

Price: £79.00
Stock: 15 in Stock

Cantucci

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.
more >>>

Price: £49.00
Stock: 5 in Stock

Fantinel

Refosco is a very old Italian family of dark-skinned grape varieties native to the northern Italian and neighbouring areas of Friuli, Gavi, Trentino,Istria, and Karst Plateau.It is considered autochthonous in these regions. The wines this grape yields can be quite powerful and tannic, with a deep violet color and a slight bitterness. On the palate, there are strong currant, wild berry and plum flavors. The wine can stand some aging.
more >>>

Price: £59.00
Stock: 1 in Stock

Palacio, Castillo, Rioja

Palacio Castillo Rioja 1981

The 1981 Palacio Castillo Rioja is a beautifully mature and traditionally styled Rioja, now showing the elegance and gentle complexity that long ageing can bring. The colour has softened to a clear garnet with brick-orange tones at the rim, reflecting its graceful evolution.

The nose is refined and expressive, offering aromas of dried cherry, redcurrant and plum, layered with leather, tobacco, vanilla, coconut and gentle sweet spice from extended American oak ageing. Subtle notes of forest floor, dried herbs and orange peel add further depth and classic Rioja character. …
more >>>

Price: £89.95
Stock: 2 in Stock