1992 Napa Valley

1992 may have been a washout in Bordeaux, but it was a beauty of a harvest for Napa Valley Cabernets. Budburst was early, yet fruit set was uneven, naturally reducing what would have otherwise been an enormous crop. Unusually, it rained in June, spurring on vigor, which required vigilant management. July was hot and dry, yet August was even hotter, with several days over 100 degrees F. An early, fast-and-furious start to the harvest ensued for varieties other than the Cabernets, which would mature at a more leisurely pace over the following moderate-to-warm few weeks. In the end, it was a fairly generous crop, resulting in a good many high-quality Cabernet Sauvignons. Although there was some heat this vintage, it was early enough in the Cabernet ripening not to have much of a detrimental impact. Therefore, the style of this vintage is more classical—taut, vibrant, medium-bodied, and muscular (with alcohols running at around 13.5%) rather than rich, full-bodied, and opulent. The top Cabernets of the vintage have aged very well and remain delicious.