1963 Wine and Port Vintage
Vintage Summary and Recommendations: A short summary of the fabulous 1963 Vintage with our top recommendations 1963 Wine and Port
The 1963 vintage produced some of the finest Vintage Portwines of the 20th century and we would recommend any of these. Across the rest of Europe, it was one of the coldest years on record wiping out most of the production. Very little 1963 wine remains, and what does, will be well past its prime.
Our Wine Expert currently recommends the following wines for this year:
This Year in History: Fun Fact: First episode of the BBC Television science fiction series Doctor Who is broadcast with William Hartnell as the First Doctor.
Eurovision Winner: Denmark with the song "Dansevise" by Grethe & Jorgen Ingmann
Born in this Year: Whitney Houston, R&B Singer, R&B and pop performer who became the most awarded female singer in history for hits such as "Hold Me" from her record-breaking self-titled album.
Top Grossing Movie: Cleopatra
Bordeaux: The 1963 wine vintage was a very poor for Bordeaux wines. The winter was harsh, the spring weather did little to promote successful flowering, and the weather throughout summer was cold and damp right through to September. Because of this, rot was a continual issue throughout the region.
Italian: The Italian 1963 wine vintage was hampered by wet weather and is generally considered to be a mediocre vintage for Italian wines from Piedmont and Tuscany. Quality Italian reds such as Barolo and Brunello are most likely to have longevity.
Portugal: 1963 vintage ports are the benchmark against which others are compared: the Vintage is considered to be legendary. The perfect 60 year old wine gift for a birthday or anniversary, anyone born in 1963 has a wine for life. Cockburn, Croft, Dow, Fonseca, Graham, Quinta do Noval Nacional, Taylor and Warre all stand out amongst a uniformly excellent field of producers. The combination of a near-perfect growing season and temperate weather during the harvest made for this incredible vintage - nearly all the shippers produced supremely balanced and well-structured wines for a full-on declaration. Ports from this year never fail to impress with their essential three components of fruit, tannin and elegance. Ageing supremely and retaining their youth, these ports often appear to be younger than they actually are! 1963 Port wines make and incredible 62 year old wine gift for a birthday or anniversary.
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21 products found.
Ryst Dupeyron Armagnac, 1963
Ryst Dupeyron Reserve Joseph Millesime vintage Armagnac
50cl bottle
Includes original orange colour cardboard gift box
*** Exclusive to VWP ***
The 1963 Réserve Joseph Dupeyron Armagnac is the expression of a single year and has a unique character associated with the year and the cask in which it has been stored. These vintages are bottled at the alcohol level in which they naturally come out of the cask.
Tasting Note
This Armagnac Réserve Joseph vintage 1963 with a deep color with mahogany nuances will be harmonious on the palate. Its aromas of apricot will reveal themselves magnificently in a balloon glass heated in the palm of your hand. It is a round eau de vie to be enjoyed as a digestive. …
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Price: £295.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Amarone della Valpolicella, 1963
Bertani
This wine is made from grapes harvested in various vineyards located on hills in the Valpolicella zone (Mezzane and Tregnago hills). Different sources and different grape varieties are important to obtain well-balanced wines with the fine structure that only a few single areas in the Valpolicella zone can provide. Notes: Color: strong ruby red. Clear and transparent. Bouquet: notes of vanilla and ethereal airs depending on the period of aging in the barrel; notes of sweet fruits such as currants, blueberries, cherries depending on the varieties of grapes. Flavor: wine with a velvety, raisiny character combined with the structure and typical stylish bitterness to give it good balance. …
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Price: £329.00
Stock: 6 in Stock
Chateau d'Yquem, 1963
Sauternes 1er Grand Cru Classe
Yquem is indisputedly the best wine in Sauternes and may well be the finest sweet wine in the world.
We quote from the tasting notes of greatbordeauxwines.com tasting in 2005:-
"Château d’Yquem 1963 87 points
Tasted in April 2005. Brown like cola. Aromas of mocca, burnt coffee beans and caramel. It had some sweetness on the palate but very little of noble rot. This was light and well-balanced wine with fine aftertaste."
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Price: £1,195.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Chateau Latour, 1963
Pauillac 1er Grand Cru classe
(Upper shoulder - tear on label)
MAGNUM Bottle Format
The 1963 Latour has a garnet colour with some browning at the edges, a medium- to full-bodied feel, plenty of black currant fruit, and some light, soft tannins still present. Head and shoulders above the other first-growths, this wine has the classic Latour bouquet of walnuts, black currants, mineral scents, and cedar wood.
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Price: £1,650.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Dow's, 1963
Vintage Port
Dow’s Vintage Port 1963 is widely celebrated as one of the finest Ports of the 20th century. Declared by most of the major houses, the 1963 vintage followed ideal growing conditions in the Douro Valley, producing wines with exceptional balance, power, and ageing potential. Among them, Dow’s stood out for its distinctive dry style and depth of character, gaining legendary status over the decades.
At over 60 years old, a well-stored bottle of Dow 1963 can still offer a stunning tasting experience. The wine typically shows a rich brick-red color with tawny edges, a natural sign of long ageing. …
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Price: £245.00
Stock: 11 in Stock
Feuerheerd Port, 1963
Vintage Port
bottled & shipped by Hedges & Butler Ltd
The 1963 Feuerheerd is clean, well-focused fruit flavours and a fresh, balanced finish. Medium tawny with a ruby hue, fresh black cherry aromas, medium-bodied, with very clean cherry flavours and a long, balanced finish.
Feuerheerd is a historic Port house with a rich legacy in the production of high-quality Ports. Founded in 1815 by Dietrich Matthias Feuerheerd, a German merchant, the house has been known for producing well-crafted Ports that are often praised for their balance, elegance, and approachable style.
History and Background:
Founding: Feuerheerd was established in 1815 in Porto, Portugal. …
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Price: £245.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Feuerheerd Port, 1963
Vintage Port
Hedges and Butler label
The 1963 Feuerheerd is clean, well-focused fruit flavours and a fresh, balanced finish. Medium tawny with a ruby hue, fresh black cherry aromas, medium-bodied, with very clean cherry flavours and a long, balanced finish.
Feuerheerd is a historic Port house with a rich legacy in the production of high-quality Ports. Founded in 1815 by Dietrich Matthias Feuerheerd, a German merchant, the house has been known for producing well-crafted Ports that are often praised for their balance, elegance, and approachable style.
History and Background:
Founding: Feuerheerd was established in 1815 in Porto, Portugal. …
more >>>
Price: £245.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Feuerheerd Port, 1963
Vintage Port
Unlabelled - embossed capsule - bottled by Hedges and Butler
The 1963 Feuerheerd is clean, well-focused fruit flavours and a fresh, balanced finish. Medium tawny with a ruby hue, fresh black cherry aromas, medium-bodied, with very clean cherry flavours and a long, balanced finish.
Feuerheerd is a historic Port house with a rich legacy in the production of high-quality Ports. Founded in 1815 by Dietrich Matthias Feuerheerd, a German merchant, the house has been known for producing well-crafted Ports that are often praised for their balance, elegance, and approachable style.
History and Background:
Founding: Feuerheerd was established in 1815 in Porto, Portugal. …
more >>>
Price: £195.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Quinta do Noval Nacional, 1963
Noval Nacional Level in Neck- Good Label ***99/100 - Robert Parker***
Noval is particularly famous for its Nacional, a Port produced in some years only from a 2 hectare parcel at the heart of the Noval vineyard where ungrafted pre phylloxera vines survive.
"Last July I enjoyed this "legend" at Noval and consumed my share of an entire bottle that was opened for our small group of Port journalists. This VP had a very dark ruby color and was clearly from a perfectly stored bottle. The 1963 is as lithe and graceful as a trapeze artist, and showed what perfection in balance is all about. It is not easy for Port to get much better than this. Sweet, spicy, grapey, mint, big, bold, brash are all apt descriptors. …
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Price: £4,900.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Quinta do Noval Nacional, 1963
Noval Nacional Level in Neck- Good Label ***99/100 - Robert Parker***
Noval is particularly famous for its Nacional, a Port produced in some years only from a 2 hectare parcel at the heart of the Noval vineyard where ungrafted pre phylloxera vines survive.
"Last July I enjoyed this "legend" at Noval and consumed my share of an entire bottle that was opened for our small group of Port journalists. This VP had a very dark ruby color and was clearly from a perfectly stored bottle. The 1963 is as lithe and graceful as a trapeze artist, and showed what perfection in balance is all about. It is not easy for Port to get much better than this. Sweet, spicy, grapey, mint, big, bold, brash are all apt descriptors. …
more >>>
Price: £4,650.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Quinta do Noval Nacional, 1963
Noval Nacional ***99/100 - Robert Parker***
Noval is particularly famous for its Nacional, a Port produced in some years only from a 2 hectare parcel at the heart of the Noval vineyard where ungrafted pre phylloxera vines survive.
"Last July I enjoyed this "legend" at Noval and consumed my share of an entire bottle that was opened for our small group of Port journalists. This VP had a very dark ruby color and was clearly from a perfectly stored bottle. The 1963 is as lithe and graceful as a trapeze artist, and showed what perfection in balance is all about. It is not easy for Port to get much better than this. Sweet, spicy, grapey, mint, big, bold, brash are all apt descriptors. …
more >>>
Price: £4,450.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Sandeman, 1963
Vintage Port
Unlabelled-Remains of label - Embossed capsule
** 96/100 - Wine Spectator **
** 96/100 - Wine Spectator **
One of the great vintages of the century, and one of the best wines ever released by Sandeman. Classic aromas of figs and prunes, powerful, rich and sweet, with tremendous length.
Reviews:
"This may be one of the most underrated '63s made. Its deep red color gives little indication of the wine's age, and there is an abundance of youthful, rich fruit on the nose and palate. Full tannins and an assertive finish back up everything." 96/100 James Suckling, The Wine Spectator
The 1963 Sandeman has less of a deep-ruby/purple colour, but it does offer a spice-box, fruitcake sort of aroma, mildly sweet, medium- to full-bodied flavours, and a ripe, tasty finish. …
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Price: £195.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Sandeman, 1963
Vintage Port
** 96/100 - Wine Spectator **
The Sandeman 1963 Vintage Port stands as a benchmark for classic Port from one of the most legendary vintages of the 20th century. Produced in the heart of the Douro Valley by one of Portugal’s most iconic houses, this wine has matured gracefully for over six decades, offering a remarkable window into the craftsmanship of traditional vintage Port. The 1963 declaration was unanimous across major producers, and Sandeman’s bottling remains one of the standout examples from that historic year.
Now showing its full maturity, the wine reveals a beautifully evolved character. In the glass, it presents a tawny-brick hue with glimmers of amber at the rim. …
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Price: £225.00
Stock: 19 in Stock
Taylor Fladgate, 1963
Vintage Port- MAGNUM Excellent Provenance
Ruby highlights surviving in the colour. Deep, intense, Burgundian richness. At first the spirit is rather overpowering. Then dark chocolate starts appearing, followed by herbal, gum cistus, licorice, cigar box, leathery quality really comes through in the mouth and a slightly medicinal character. Medium length.
This house must certainly be the Latour of Portugal. Their ports are remarkably backward yet still impressive when young. Of all the vintage ports, those of Taylor need the longest time to mature and even when fully mature seem to have an inner strength and firmness that keep them going for decades. …
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Price: £1,395.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Warre's Vintage Port, 1963
Vintage Port
Good level | plain label
Warre’s Vintage Port 1963 is one of the standout Ports from what is widely considered one of the greatest declared vintages of the 20th century. Alongside other top houses like Dow, Taylor, and Graham, Warre produced a wine of remarkable elegance, structure, and longevity. Known for its relatively lighter, more refined style, Warre’s 1963 has aged beautifully and is still considered a joy to drink over 60 years later.
In the glass, Warre 1963 typically shows a clear garnet or tawny color with brick-like edges, a testament to its long bottle ageing. The nose is refined and complex, offering layers of dried cherries, rose petals, figs, old leather, spice box, and a subtle touch of orange peel. …
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Price: £245.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Croft Port, 1963
Vintage Port
The 1963 Croft Vintage Port is one of the most celebrated wines from an iconic vintage. The year 1963 is often considered one of the greatest in Port history, with nearly all the major producers declaring it a vintage year. Croft's 1963 Port has been praised for its longevity, balance, and classic elegance. Here's a breakdown:
Key Characteristics:
Color: Deep garnet that fades to a tawny edge with age.
Nose: Intense aromas of dried fruits, figs, plums, spices, chocolate, and hints of tobacco and leather.
Palate: Silky smooth with rich flavors of raisins, dark berries, caramel, and a long, harmonious finish. …
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Price: £199.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Croft Port, 1963
Vintage Port
Averys of Bristol Bottling | unlabelled - embossed capsule
The Croft 1963 Vintage Port is a legendary wine from a great vintage.
91 points Wine Spectator:
"Has great elegance and harmony, and should continue to improve for many years. Medium ruby-red, with very fresh plum aromas, medium-bodied, with very delicate fresh fruit flavours, lively acidity and a delicate finish." (01/89)
Learn more about Croft
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Price: £249.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Feuerheerd Port, 1963
Vintage Port
Embossed capsule - bottled by Hedges and Butler
The 1963 Feuerheerd is clean, well-focused fruit flavours and a fresh, balanced finish. Medium tawny with a ruby hue, fresh black cherry aromas, medium-bodied, with very clean cherry flavours and a long, balanced finish.
Feuerheerd is a historic Port house with a rich legacy in the production of high-quality Ports. Founded in 1815 by Dietrich Matthias Feuerheerd, a German merchant, the house has been known for producing well-crafted Ports that are often praised for their balance, elegance, and approachable style.
History and Background:
Founding: Feuerheerd was established in 1815 in Porto, Portugal. …
more >>>
Price: £225.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Rebello Valente Vintage Port, 1963
Vintage Port
UK bottled by Berry Brothers
Rebello Valente is a historic name in the Port wine industry, though it is not as widely recognized today as some of the larger producers like Taylor's, Graham's, or Fonseca. The brand was originally established in Portugal and has a history of producing high-quality Port wines. Like many Port houses, Rebello Valente produced Vintage Ports, which are made from the best grapes of a single year and are intended for long aging. Vintage Ports from years like 1963 are particularly prized, as 1963 was an exceptional year for Port.
Tasting Notes
Mid-coloured red centre with an orange colour rim. …
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Price: £195.00
Stock: Out of Stock
Taylor Fladgate, 1963
Vintage Port
Unlabelled
Ruby highlights surviving in the colour. Deep, intense, Burgundian richness. At first the spirit is rather overpowering. Then dark chocolate starts appearing, followed by herbal, gum cistus, licorice, cigar box, leathery quality really comes through in the mouth and a slightly medicinal character. Medium length.
This house must certainly be the Latour of Portugal. Their ports are remarkably backward yet still impressive when young. Of all the vintage ports, those of Taylor need the longest time to mature and even when fully mature seem to have an inner strength and firmness that keep them going for decades. …
more >>>
Price: £325.00
Stock: Out of Stock