Château Cheval Blanc 1992

Château Cheval Blanc

Execrable weather, combined with high yields, worked against ripening in 1992. While the wine is certainly light, it is also aromatic and pleasant. It is nevertheless unable to develop further.

Execrable weather, combined with high yields, worked against ripening in 1992. While the wine is certainly light, it is also aromatic and pleasant. It is nevertheless unable to develop further.

Weather conditions and vine’s growing cycle

Temperatures and rainfall

This year was marked by major contrasts in the weather. After a very warm, sunny month of May, June was awful, with a great deal of rain (200 mm). Things improved in July, which was followed by a hot, but very wet month of August. Weather in September was uneven, but with temperatures, rainfall, and sunshine close to the monthly average.

1992 : TEMPERATURES AND RAINFALL COMPARED WITH NORMAL VALUES IN SAINT-EMILION

Water balance

There was no water stress in 1992. In fact, this was one of the wettest vintages in 50 years in Bordeaux. This was largely due to a series of showers from June to August.  The absence of water stress obviously had an effect on wine quality.

1992 WATER BALANCE

Growing season

Seeing as production was very limited in 1991, yields were generous in 1992, a year in which growth was quite vigorous, especially in the month of May. Special care needed to be taken in June to avoid the spread of mildew and grey rot. The grapes ripened at an average pace. The harvest began on the 24th of September and finished on the 10th of October.

Merlot Cabernet franc
Begin End Begin End
1992 harvest dates September, 24th October, 1st October, 2nd October, 10th
Average harvest dates (1986-2014) September, 19th September, 27th September, 27th October, 5th

 

 

Features of the vintage

Ripening and yields

Despite a few showers, the weather mostly cooperated all throughout picking. The grapes were noticeably lacking not only in sugar, but also phenolic compounds.  Total acidity was very high, but pH was close to average. The grapes were picked into small crates at Cheval Blanc starting with this vintage. Meticulous manual sorting was necessary to eliminate all trace of grey rot and underripe grapes. The crop was larger than usual.

1992 yield   (hl/ha) Average yield (1946 to 2014)
63.5 33.9

 

Blending

1992 PROPORTION OF THE DIFFERENT WINES, CHEVAL BLANC, PETIT CHEVAL & THIRD WINE
ALL 1992 CHATEAU CHEVAL BLANC BOTTLE SIZES
Degree of alcohol 12.5
Total acidity (g H2 S04/L) 3.22
Volatile acidity (g H2 SO4/L) 0.54
pH 3.80
Total SO2 (mg/L) 88
Reducing sugar content (g/L) 0.8
IPT (DO280) 53