1996 Wine and Port Vintage
Vintage Summary and Recommendations: Welcome to Vintage Wine and Port's 1996 wine page. Read on for our summary of the 1996 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 1996 year was, overall, fantastic for much of Europe, and particularly France. Bordeaux had an incredible vintage for both dry reds and whites and Sauternes. In Italy, Piedmont enjoyed a dazzling year. For drinking now, look to Bordeaux, Sauternes, Burgundy or Barolo. There should still be a wide range of exceptional options still drinking well now to choose from. Any of these 1996 vintage would make a fabulous 20 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: The Hubble Space Telescope revealed images of Pluto’s surface for the first time.
Eurovision Winner: Ireland with the song "The Voice" by Eimar Quinn
Top Grossing Movie: Independence Day
Bordeaux: The 1996 vintage produced exceptional wines that broke all price records (until the 2000 vintage). The top wines reached full maturity a decade ago, but will keep for many more years.
Champagne: A dry summer with long bursts of sunshine produced a very high quality harvest of slightly above average size.
Italian: 1996 was an outstanding vintage for Italian wines. In Piedmont, tricky weather all summer yielded to a period of hot and dry weather from mid-September through to mid-October. This enabled the late-ripening Nebbiolo to achieve a classic balance between fruit and structure. The best Barolos and Barbarescos are substantial on the palate and give every indication of a long life ahead, offering a superlative drinking experience if kept well. Like Piedmont, Tuscany had a cooler than average summer and this enabled a long, slow ripening of the grapes. The wines are richly aromatic, deeply coloured and abundantly fruity - making them brilliant 27 year old wine gifts for a birthday or anniversary.
Portugal: Although 1996 was one of the wettest years for port on record, the Douro region produced a large, abundant crop. The year was not declared as a Vintage, however a few good port wines were produced which are noted for being fruity and forward. A 1996 Vintage Port would make for an excellent 29 year old wine gift for a special anniversary this year.
Sauternes: Bordeaux had an incredible vintage for both dry reds and whites and Sauternes. The shining stars of could mostly, bar the odd exception, be found among the Left Bank estates.
Spain: A very good vintage for Spain, though less fine than the preceding two. The 1996 was particularly successful in Ribera del Duero, where ripe, relatively friendly wines were made.
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32 products found.
Burmester, 1996
Vintage Port in Gift Box
This 1996 Burmester Vintage Port from the fabulous 1996 Port Vintage has outstanding provenance! This bottle has been stored at the Burmester cellars in Porto since bottling, until it was acquired by us earlier this year.
The 1996 Burmester is a beautiful mature garnet colour. On the nose it has cocoa, chocolate together with a hint of mint. On the palate this is quite complex - medium bodied with a perfect balance between the acidity, tannins and flavours, there is a little spiciness in the mouth that adds to the experience. Long, long finish. This is in a good place and should hold well for the next decade or so. …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: 32 in Stock
Burmester
30 Year Old Tawny Port in Gift Tube
94 Points - Robert Parker
Decanter DWWA - Silver - 92 Points
The Burmester 30 Year Old Tawny Port, has been slowly maturing in oak casks rendering a classic port wine of exceptional quality and elegance. It showcases a complex and powerful nose, dominated by the strong presence of the dried fruits and spices, combined with a subtle and refined note of vanilla. In the mouth it is concentrated, silky and engaging. A wine with great structure, great character and an apotheotic finish.
Serving & Food Pairing:
Tawny Ports are ready-to drink and do not require decanting. Best enjoyed slightly chilled at 12-13ºC they will work wonders if pairing with treacle tart, crème brulee or nut based desserts, like hazelnut praline. …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: 18 in Stock
Maynard's Port
30 Year Old Tawny Port
97 points Decanter Platinum Award
Was £59.95 Special New Year Offer £49.95
Maynard’s 30 Year Old Tawny Port
A classic, long-aged Tawny from the Van Zeller family (Barão de Vilar), bottled under the Maynard’s label. Blended from old cask reserves to an average age of 30 years, it delivers the quintessential Tawny profile: elegance, sweetness in check, and layered rancio complexity.
Style & Maturity: Indicated Age Tawny (avg. 30 years in old oak); fully mature, cask-aged complexity.
Colour: Deep amber-tawny with a burnished rim; brilliant, syrupy legs.
Nose: Dried fig and apricot, orange peel, walnut and almond brittle; toffee, caramel, vanilla pod, coffee bean and warm spice (cinnamon/nutmeg). …
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Price: £49.95
Stock: 24 in Stock
Palmer Port
30 Year Old Tawny Port
Was £69.95
Special Offer £59.95
Palmer 30 Year tawny Port
Ready to drink having aged in oak for an average of thirty years. Time in cask has defined a concentrated tawny port with pronounced and layered aromas of dried fruits and walnuts. A sweet mouthfeel of vanilla and honey, and further notes of dried fig, toffee and refreshing caramelised citrus render this wine balance and multifaceted complexity. A tawny port faithful to its tradition, with a warming, rich, long finish.
Serving & Food Pairing:
Tawny Ports are ready-to drink and do not require decanting. Best enjoyed slightly chilled at 12-13ºC they will work wonders if pairing with treacle tart, crème brulee or nut based desserts, like hazelnut praline. …
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Price: £59.95
Stock: 17 in Stock
Quevedo, 1996
30 Year Old White Port
93 Points - Wine Advocate
This outstanding 30 Year Old white port from Quevedo embodies a blend of some of the finest whites from Oscar and Claudia's cellars. Aged for an average of thirty years in cask, this elegant white port shows an intense aromatic profile of orange citrus notes, apricots and almonds. Full bodied on the palate with pronounced notes of spices and dried stone fruits, mouthwatering acidity and a long, lingering finish with layers of marmalade and spice. A very complex blend, which represents the traditional Quevedo family style exceptionally well.
Serving & Food Pairing:
White Ports are ready to drink and do not require decanting. …
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Price: £89.95
Stock: 25 in Stock
Quinta da Devesa
30 Year Old White Port in Gift Box
50cl Bottle
WAS £64.95 New Year Sale Offer £54.95
94 Points- Wine Advocate
The Quinta da Devesa 30-Year-Old White Port is a remarkable expression of aged white port from the Douro Valley, crafted by one of the region’s most innovative and quality-focused producers. Made from traditional white grape varieties such as Côdega de Larinho, Rabigato, Malvasia Fina, and Gouveio, the wine is aged for an average of three decades in seasoned oak casks. This long maturation allows it to develop extraordinary complexity while retaining the freshness that defines the house style.
Visually, the port shows a radiant golden amber hue with glints of olive and green around the rim, a hallmark of advanced oxidative aging. …
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Price: £54.95
Stock: 50 in Stock
Quinta da Devesa
30 Year Old Tawny Port in Gift Box
75cl Bottle
94 Points - Robert Parker
The Quinta da Devesa 30-Year-Old Tawny Port is a masterfully aged fortified wine that showcases the estate’s deep commitment to craftsmanship and tradition. Produced in the heart of the Douro Valley, this tawny port is made from a selection of native grape varieties—primarily Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca, and Tinto Cão—that have been aged in old oak casks for an average of 30 years. The result is a tawny port of remarkable complexity, balance, and elegance.
In the glass, it displays a deep amber-brown color with golden edges, a sign of its long oxidative aging. …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: 67 in Stock
Ryst Dupeyron Armagnac, 1996
Ryst Dupeyron Reserve Joseph Millesime vintage Armagnac
50cl bottle
Includes original orange colour cardboard gift box
The 1996 Ryst-Dupeyron is an Armagnac, a type of brandy from the Gascony region in southwest France. Armagnac is one of the oldest distilled spirits in France, with a rich history dating back to the 14th century.
Tasting Notes
A vintage Armagnac like the 1996 would have been aged for a significant period before being bottled. Typically, it should display and complex flavour profile with notes of dried fruits, vanilla, spices, and sometimes a hint of smokiness. The exact flavours can vary based on the terroir, grape varieties used, and the aging process.
Serving & Food Pairing
Armagnac is traditionally enjoyed neat, allowing you to fully appreciate its complexity. …
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Price: £68.95
Stock: 34 in Stock
J W Hart, 1996
Colheita Port
150cl Bottle
This 1996 J W Hart Tawny Colheita is elegant and complex. An amalgamation of rich flavours is marked by the presence of dried fruits, with a burst of freshness in red cherries enhanced by an exuberant note of spice. Perfect for pairing with an exquisite salted caramel tart.
Colheita Port Storage and Serving Advice:
Colheita Port should be stored in a cool and dry place, sheltered from light and temperature fluctuations, and the bottle should remain in an upright position. If stored correctly, Colheita Ports will keep for decades in the bottle. Over time, it is natural that a little sediment will form at the bottom of a bottle of colheita Port wine. …
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Price: £169.00
Stock: 5 in Stock
Kopke
30 year old White Port - Half bottle 37.5cl
Decanter DWWA 2025- Silver
RRP £69.95 Special Offer £56.50
This exceptional 30 Year Old White Port from Kopke has matured in oak casks for an average of three decades, developing remarkable depth and character. Crafted from traditional Douro grape varieties, it reveals aromas of dried apricot, toffee and roasted hazelnuts, with gentle spice. The palate is rich and silky, offering caramel, penuche and butterscotch that unfold into a long, honeyed finish of outstanding finesse.
Serving & Food Pairing:
Aged White Ports are ready to drink and do not require decanting. Serve slightly chilled (12–13°C) to enhance their elegance. …
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Price: £56.50
Stock: 7 in Stock
Messias
30 Year Old White Port in Gift Tube
50cl Bottle
The Messias 30 Year Old White Port is a fairly rare style of port that has been aged for a minimum of thirty years in oak barrels, allowing it to develop a complex array of flavors and aromas. While white ports are less common than their red counterparts, they offer a captivating alternative with their distinctive flavour profile and versatility. A light amber colour. The nose has some complexity, with notes of apricot and hazelnut standing out. The palate is very fresh and pleasantly sweet. This is a wine with a long, velvety finish.
Serving & Food Pairing:
White Ports are ready to drink and do not require decanting. …
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Price: £59.95
Stock: 40 in Stock
Messias
30 Year Old Tawny Port
91 Points Wine Advocate
Aged to perfection in small casks at Messias cellars in Oporto's Villa Nova de Gaia, this 30 Year Old Tawny Port reveals a beautiful amber colour with golden highlights, displaying the characteristic tawny hue that comes with extended aging. Aromas of dried fruits dominate, with notes of figs, dates, and raisins, layered with hints of caramel, toffee, and roasted nuts. On the palate it is silky smooth and luscious with rich, concentrated flavors of caramelized nuts, dried apricots, and candied orange peel. Velvety texture, balanced by vibrant acidity, with a long, lingering finish that is both elegant and complex. …
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Price: £69.95
Stock: 23 in Stock
Quinta Das Carvalhas
30 Year Old Tawny Port
93 Points - Wine Enthusiast
WAS £89.95 Special Offer £79.95
The outstanding Quinta das Carvalhas 30 Year Old Tawny Port is exclusively offered to the UK by Vintage Wine and Port.
Hailing from one of the most iconic estates in Portugal's dramatic Douro Valley this exquisite Tawny Port has matured in cask for an average of thirty years.
Tasting Notes
The prolonged maturation has rendered this port seductive aromas of caramelised sugar and dark chocolate mingled with hints of currants. On the palate, rich flavors of dark roast coffee and dark chocolate are followed by notes of roasted walnuts and wood spice. Flavours of dark rum shine through, adding warmth and depth. …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: 59 in Stock
Chateau du Mayne, 1996
Sauternes
Sweet White Wine
The 1996 Château du Mayne Sauternes is a graceful, fully mature sweet wine from the heart of Sauternes, offering honeyed richness balanced by fresh acidity. A delicious choice for lovers of classic botrytised whites. Drink now and over the coming years.
Tasting Notes:
Deep golden hue with amber glints. Aromas of apricot and quince paste, Seville orange marmalade, acacia honey and saffron, with hints of crème brûlée, toasted almond and candied ginger. The palate is silky and glycerolic yet poised, layering dried apricot, citrus peel, honey and vanilla spice over a bright, cleansing acidity. …
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Price: £39.95
Stock: 12 in Stock
Chateau Guiraud, 1996
Sauternes
This is a classic Sauternes with a great deal of sweetness, plenty of ripeness, and obvious aromas of toasty, smoky new oak. The wine exhibits finesse and complexity, a style of Sauternes that will have its admirers, particularly among those who like to drink these wines as an aperitif.
Château Guiraud is a renowned wine estate located in the Sauternes appellation of Bordeaux, France. With a history dating back to the 18th century, the estate has established itself as a leading producer of prestigious sweet wines. Spanning approximately 100 hectares, the vineyard benefits from a unique terroir characterized by gravelly, sandy, and limestone soils, ideal for cultivating Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes affected by noble rot. …
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Price: £79.95
Stock: 5 in Stock
Chateau Kirwan, 1996
Margaux 3rd Growth Classification
"The 1996 Kirwan is a highly-extracted, rich, medium-bodied wine with a deep ruby/purple colour, and ripe cassis fruit intermixed with a touch of new oak, prunes, and spice. The wine has come together nicely since I first tasted it from cask. It appears to be an excellent, nearly outstanding effort. There is moderate tannin in the finish, so give this beefy, rich, muscular wine 6-7 years of cellaring. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #122, Apr 1999
Rating 88/100
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Price: £89.95
Stock: 8 in Stock
Chateau Lamothe Guignard, 1996
Sauternes
The 1996 Château Lamothe-Guignard from Sauternes is a beautiful representation of a classic sweet Bordeaux, known for its balance of sweetness, acidity, and rich flavors. This vintage saw favorable weather conditions that allowed for the development of noble rot (Botrytis cinerea), essential for creating the complex, honeyed character that Sauternes wines are celebrated for.
In the glass, this 1996 Lamothe-Guignard shows a rich golden hue, which has deepened over the years. On the nose, it opens with aromas of ripe apricot, honey, and tropical fruit, layered with notes of vanilla, almond, and a hint of spice. …
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Price: £39.95
Stock: 5 in Stock
Chateau Marquis de Terme, 1996
Margaux, 4th Growth Classification
A very tannic, structured wine with an opaque purple color and a sweet creme de cassis nose intermixed with damp earth, vanilla, and licorice, this relatively massive wine has mouth-searing levels of tannin, medium body, and a very backward style that will require considerable patience from its buyers.
Château Marquis de Terme stands as a venerable emblem of the Margaux appellation within Bordeaux, France. Rooted in a storied history tracing back to the 12th century, this esteemed estate has evolved into a paragon of fine winemaking. Renowned for its meticulous vineyard management and dedication to crafting wines that reflect the unique terroir of the region, …
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Price: £89.00
Stock: 2 in Stock
Chateau Pavie Macquin, 1996
St. Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux
The Château Pavie Macquin 1996 is a wine from Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux, France, produced by an estate renowned for its focus on terroir-driven, expressive wines. Though the 1996 vintage was more celebrated on the Left Bank due to favorable conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon, the Right Bank, with its Merlot-dominated blends, also produced wines of finesse and structure, particularly from estates like Pavie Macquin, known for meticulous vineyard management.
Wine Overview
Château Pavie Macquin is classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé (B) and is known for its concentrated and age-worthy wines. …
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Price: £89.95
Stock: 9 in Stock
Chateau Siran, 1996
Margaux Cru Bourgeois
From the very good 1996 vintage this Chateau Siran has a beautiful mature bouquet with black currants, tobacco and bitterness. Juicy, good sweet and bitterness. The aftertaste is not extremely long, but has good sweetness and even some good tannin. Although completely mature there is some power left and this wine is a true pleasure to drink.
About Château Siran, Chateau Siran is nestled in the heart of the Margaux appellation within Bordeaux, France, is a historic estate renowned for its elegant wines and rich heritage. With a history dating back to the 17th century, this picturesque property has been meticulously tended by generations of the Miailhe family, who have upheld a tradition of excellence in winemaking. …
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Price: £89.00
Stock: 3 in Stock
Dow's, 1996
30 Year Old Tawny Port
Dows 30 Year Old Tawny Port has coppery-amber tones framed by a pale orange-green rim, this wine has saline scents alongside elegant floral notes and a touch of cinnamon. Luxurious and silky on the palate, Dow’s 30 Year Old Tawny is extremely refined with flavours of quince and citrus and a stylish, lingering dry finish with nuances of tea leaf.
Dow’s Port is one of the most famous names in the Port trade and today is owned and managed by the fifth generation of the Symington family. The family, whose experience dates back over 100 years, supervises all the vineyards, winemaking and ageing of this wine. …
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Price: £89.95
Stock: 1 in Stock
Graham's Port
30 Year-Old Tawny Port
In original Graham's gift tube as illustrated
The Graham's 30 Year Old Tawny Port is a masterpiece of aged Port craftsmanship. Unlike Vintage Ports, which spend only a short time in oak barrels before bottling, Tawny Ports like Graham's 30 Year Old are aged for three decades or more in seasoned oak casks. This extended aging allows the wine to develop a mellow and harmonious character, with flavors integrating and evolving over time.
Tasting notes
The Graham's 30 Year Old Tawny Port is a mesmerizing amber wine with gold glimmers, hinting at its decades-long oak casks. Its aromas are delicate, with layers of un-drenched raisins, succulent figs, and caramelized dates taking center stage. …
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Price: £89.95
Stock: 1 in Stock
Justino's Madeira, 1996
Justino's - Tinta Negra Madeira
The wine has a dark amber color with a lucid and consistent yellow edge. More than a Marsala, the impact of the aroma is like a great Viccotto from the Marche region, although it is much finer. The bouquet has less caramel and is less volatile with more notes of prune, dried fruit and bitter coffee. The mouthfeel is sweet and caramel-like with notes of black tea and coffee, while the finish is invigorated by a distinct acidity.
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Price: £59.95
Stock: 38 in Stock
Quinta de la Rosa, 1996
Vintage Port
Quinta de La Rosa is a small estate in the heart of the Port wine-growing region in Alto Douro, near Pinhao, owned and operated by the Bergqvist family.
The Quinta and its vineyards were given to the Bergqvist family as a Christening present by the Feuerheerds, who established the property in 1906.
It remains one of the few Single Quinta where the vineyards start at the bank of the Douro and rise 450 meters to the towering top of the mountain. From the river's edge to the top, one passes through 11 different microclimates. This gives La Rosa great flexibility to add variety and complexity to its Ports. …
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Price: £89.95
Stock: 16 in Stock
Quinta do Noval Nacional, 1996
Vintage Port
This wine is a mysterious phenomenon, a magical wine produced in extremely limited quantities and only in a few years each decade. It is the expression of a terroir and confirms something that is for me a deeply held belief. The Nacional is great because of the grapes and where they come from, not because of anything particular that we do. It has a unique personality, an extraordinary intensity and, even after many years of ageing, retains an astonishing youthfulness.
Learn more about Quinta do Noval
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Price: £995.00
Stock: 1 in Stock