Our view on the 1992 vintage
The strong frost of 1992 impacted the flowering of the vine for the 1992 Bordeaux wines (spreading and heterogeneous flowering). In addition, a particularly rainy month of August (three times the normal level), followed by an unusually cool month of September, prevented the harvest of fine grapes. However, the 1992 white wines of Bordeaux were favoured thanks to the freshness of September (1992 Haut Brion and 1992 Laville Haut Brion are superb in 1992 Pessac Leognan). The winemakers who had been able to proceed to green harvest for their red wines saved their 1992 vintage. 1992 Petrus and 1992 Trotanoy experimented with a black plastic cover of the soil at great cost, and obtained better results (this system was prohibited then). However, the general trend of Bordeaux red wines from 1992 is medium to low, and only the best are fruity, supple and of moderate aging. No good wines in 1992 Sauternes (Yquem has decided not to produce their 1992 vintage). Plethoric harvest in 1992 Burgundy, the acidity is low in red wines, causing aging difficulties. Advantage at the 1992 Cote de Beaune (Pommard, Volnay, Beaune...) which can prove to be solid. In white Burgundy, the year 1992 is very beautiful, and has produced great wines in Meursault, Grands Crus (Chassagne sector) , and Corton Charlemagne. These wines are complete, and even if their colour can seem to be very evolved, these bottles are worthy of the expectation that a demanding consumer must have. Average 1992 year in Champagne and in the Rhone Valley where the wines are not strong. The year 1992 can be considered as quite poor for the wines of the Loire Valley and those of Alsace.