1979 Wine and Port Vintage
Vintage Summary and Recommendations:
Welcome to Vintage Wine and Port's 1979 wine page. Read on for our summary of the 1979 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!
1979 was a year of mostly average-to-good wine produced throughout the world, with a few truly stand-out regions. Bordeaux suffered a large, overly tannic vintage but there still might be one or two surprises lurking there – you will have to look hard for them though. Burgundy, however, was a different story and enjoyed a good vintage. Champagne and Alsace were both good but the real star for France was the Rhône. For Italy, the wines of Tuscany were the best. The Port vintage was generally good, despite not many producers declaring, and there are almost guaranteed to be some good LBV wines drinking well. Any of these wines would make a fabulous 46 year old wine gift for an Anniversary or birthday.
Our Wine Expert currently recommends the following wines for this year:
This Year in History: Fun Fact: Board game Trivial Pursuit is launched.
Eurovision Winner: Israel with the song "Hallelujah" by Milk and Honey
Born in this Year: Jonny Wilkinson, Rugby Player, English rugby star who played fly-half for Toulon and England's national team. He wrote about the Six Nations tournaments and Rugby World Cups for The Times in 2011. He helped England win the Rugby World Cup in 2003.
Top Grossing Movie: Moonraker
Bordeaux: Initially overlooked in preference to the 1978 Vintage, 1979 was one of the very few cool years that produced a good vintage for Bordeaux. The wines were initially very tannic and acidic but after four decades of cellaring the wines have matured nicely and are now at their peak. They will remain so for years to come.
Italian: 1979 is a very good wine vintage. Good growing conditions particularly in Tuscany and Piedmont produced rich, full bodied wines.
Portugal: A Vintage Port from 1979 makes an excellent 44 year old wine gift for a 44th birthday or anniversary. Still drinking well, 1979 ports are part of a span of good vintages from 1977 to 1980. A very wet winter was followed by a dry hot summer and no rainfall from late June until 18th September. The crop was large and produced many quite good straight forward single-quinta wines that are now mature but will keep well for years.
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28 products found.
Ryst Dupeyron Armagnac, 1979
Ryst Dupeyron Reserve Joseph Millesime vintage Armagnac
50cl bottle
The Armagnac Joseph Millésime 1979 represents a distinctive snapshot of the 1979 harvest and the traditional methods of Armagnac production. With careful aging, it offers a rich and complex drinking experience that showcases the depth and character of the Armagnac region.
Tasting Notes
Expect flavours typical of well-aged Armagnac, such as prunes, figs, and apricots, spices like vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg, nuts, and possibly floral or woody undertones. The specific profile can vary based on the conditions of the 1979 growing season and the aging process.
Serving & Food Pairing
Armagnac is traditionally enjoyed neat, allowing you to fully appreciate its complexity. …
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Price: £89.00
Stock: 6 in Stock
Barbaresco, 1979
M. Mascarello & Figli
Clearance Offer - Last Bottle | Was £139 | Now £89
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: £89.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barbaresco, 1979
Giordano
Special Offer | Was £139 | Now £99
Offer ends 30th April
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: £139.00
Stock: 6 in Stock
Barbaresco, 1979
Pelissero Luigi
Special Offer | was £139 | Now £99
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, Nieve 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. …
more >>>
Price: £99.00
Stock: 22 in Stock
Barbaresco, 1979
Montebello della Torre
Clearance Offer - Last Bottle | Was £119 | Now £79
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, Nieve 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. …
more >>>
Price: £79.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barbera d'Asti, 1979
Rabezzana
Clearance Offer - Last Bottle | Was £89 | Now £65
Barbera is a wine of prestige, rich colors that refer generally to the ruby purple, just what clothes cardinals; the bouquet is ample and composite, with fruity notes of blackberry, cherry, strawberry and red fruit jam and spicy aromas reminiscent of cinnamon, vanilla, green pepper.
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Price: £65.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Barolo, 1979
Cav. Luigi Cauda, Piedmont *** Clearance Offer | Was £149 | Now £79 ***
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: £79.00
Stock: 5 in Stock
Cabernet, 1979
Alfredo Lazzarini
Clearance Offer | was £69 | now £30
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: £30.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Cabernet, 1979
Cavit, CABERNET *** MAGNUM BOTTLE ***
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: £119.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Chateau Cormeil- Figeac, 1979
Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Château Cormeil-Figeac is a family-owned estate located in the Saint-Émilion appellation of Bordeaux, France. Situated between the renowned Châteaux Figeac and Cheval Blanc, the estate benefits from an exceptional terroir. Currently managed by the fourth generation of the family, Victor and Coraline Moreaud, the vineyard spans approximately 10 hectares with vines averaging 45 years of age. The vineyard is planted with 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc.
Tasting Notes:
Expect a garnet coloured wine with aromas of red berries (cherry, raspberry), dried herbs, earthy notes, hints of cedar and tobacco. …
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 4 in Stock
Chateau Cos Labory, 1979
St Estephe 5th Growth Classification
Magnum
Château Cos Labory, a fifth-growth estate in Bordeaux's Saint-Estèphe appellation, has a history of producing robust and age-worthy wines. The 1979 vintage experienced a cool growing season, leading to wines that were initially graceful and well-balanced but have since declined, often exhibiting lean tannins and diminished fruit.
After over four decades, the 1979 Château Cos Labory may present pronounced earthy and leathery notes, with a reduced fruit presence. Proper decanting is recommended to separate any sediment and to allow the wine to breathe, potentially unveiling subtle nuances that have developed over time. …
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Price: £129.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Chateau Croizet Bages, 1979
Pauillac 5th Growth Classification
1979 Château Croizet-Bages – A Mature Pauillac from a Classic Era
Château Croizet-Bages, a fifth-growth estate in the Pauillac appellation, is known for producing Cabernet Sauvignon-led wines that offer a more approachable and elegant expression of the region. The 1979 vintage in Bordeaux was a moderate to good year, producing wines that were medium-bodied, well-structured, and capable of aging for several decades. While overshadowed by the more powerful 1978 and 1982 vintages, 1979 Bordeaux wines have proven to age gracefully, particularly from well-regarded estates.
Now at over 40 years of age, …
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Price: £69.95
Stock: 12 in Stock
Chateau Lynch Moussas, 1979
Pauillac 5th Growth Classification
Château Lynch-Moussas, a fifth-growth estate in Bordeaux's Pauillac appellation, has a storied history dating back to the 18th century. The 1979 vintage, while not among the most celebrated years in Bordeaux, offers a unique glimpse into the evolution of this estate's wines over the decades.
Specific tasting notes for the 1979 Château Lynch-Moussas are scarce, reflecting the vintage's overall 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. …
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Price: £99.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Château Malartic-Lagravière, 1979
Graves Blanc
Excluded from our guarantee
This 1979 Malartic Lagravière Blanc is sold as a curiosity. While it was originally a superb Pessac with an elegant nose of yellow fruit and citrus, and a full-bodied palate with lovely acidity, it was designed to age up to fifteen years. As such, although it may be drinkable and rewarding, we cannot guarantee its condition. However, it could make a unique novelty gift for someone born in 1979.
Purchased by the family of Count Hippolite de Maurès de Malartic at the end of the eighteenth century, Château Malartic Lagravière has been renowned for centuries for the quality of its terroir. In 1997, the Bonnie family bought it from the Marly family. …
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Price: £30.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Dolcetto d'Alba, 1979
G. Troglia
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: £59.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Dolcetto d'Alba, 1979
M. Mascarello
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: £59.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Fara, 1979
Colli Novaresi
The wines "Fara" shall be obtained within the company, from grapes coming from vines in the following proportions indicated below: Nebbiolo (Span) 50-70%; Vespolina and Uva Rara (Bonarda Novarese) alone or in combination from 30% to 50%. They can also contribute to such production the red grapes, non-aromatic, from the grape varieties suitable for cultivation in the Piedmont Region to the maximum extent of 10%.
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Price: £69.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Frei Joao, 1979
New
Frei Joao - Reserva, Bairrada - MAGNUM
Caves S. Joao, established in 1920, became a dominant force in Portuguese wine making in the early 20th century with their houses Porta dos Cavaleiros in Dao and Frei Joao in Bairrada. Given the shifting trends in consumer preferences, Bairrada and Dao fell to obscurity in the 1990s when critical influence drove the demand for bigger, extracted, warmer climate wines. As in all things, however, what comes around goes around! Sure enough, 20 years later savvy consumers and food-conscious sommeliers are looking for finesse and freshness and heading back to Bairrada and Dao. Wines that when young had a vegetal character, …
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Price: £149.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Grumello, 1979
Nera
Clearance Offer | was £69 | now £30
Grumello wines are those made under the Valtellina Superiore, specifically from grapes grown in the named Grumello sub-region. 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.
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Price: £30.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Lagrein, 1979
Barone de Cles
Lagrein produces wine which has high acidity and low pH, and highly tannic. Eric Asimov notes that Lagrein produces “ ... congenial, straightforward wines that can be deliciously plummy, earthy and chewy, dark and full-bodied but not heavy, with a pronounced minerally edge.”
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Price: £59.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Montepulciano, 1979
d'Abruzzo, Rosso della Quercia - Casa Canditella
Clearance Offer | Was £69 | Now £28
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: £28.00
Stock: 7 in Stock
Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, 1979
Casal Thaulero
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: £79.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Sangiovese di Romagna, 1979
F.lli Bartolini
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: £59.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Valtellina, 1979
Cantina San Carlo
Valtellina is one of Italy’s most dramatic wine regions, located in Lombardy, the vineyards are located on steep mountains. The principal grape variety is Chiavennasca (the local name for Piedmont’s Nebbiolo and an Italian grape varietal that has been cultivated since medieval times here). The DOCG wines are generally comprised of at least 90% Chiavennasca and then blended with other quality local grapes like Brugnola, Rossola, Pignola. Then there is a DOC Valtellina Rosso (also called Rosso di Valtellina DOC) which requires at least 80% of the blend be Chiavennasca and does not have minimum ageing requirements. …
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Price: £59.00
Stock: 1 in Stock
Vino da Tavola, 1979
Az. Agraria F.lli Vallunga
Red cherry red with ruby highlights. Fine and intense nose, with floral and fruity scents. The flavour is dry, fine and fruity with high acidity and a slight almond aftertaste.
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Price: £49.00
Stock: 2 in Stock