Why does an armagnac bear the year 1992?
The vintage of an armagnac is the year the grapes that made the wine, and then the brandy, were harvested. A 1992 vintage armagnac therefore brings together only brandies from that harvest. This sets it apart from VSOP, XO and hors d'âge, which are blends: the cellar master marries several years to keep a consistent taste. With a vintage, you taste one harvest, in the style of one house.
The base wine is a dry, low-alcohol white wine, made by each estate from the grape varieties of the appellation: ugni blanc, baco blanc, folle blanche and colombard. This wine is distilled in winter in the armagnac still, a continuous column still, true to the tradition of the South West. The resulting brandy then goes to age in oak casks. In the cellar, it takes on colour, grows rounder and develops its aromas in contact with the wood, while a small portion evaporates every year.
Worth remembering: bottling stops the ageing. To know the real age of your 1992, look at the bottling date when it is known: at Castarède, 28 years in cask, until 2020.
1992, the Albertville Games and the opening of Euro Disney
In February 1992, Albertville and Savoie hosted the Winter Olympic Games. On 12 April, the Euro Disney park, today Disneyland Paris, opened its doors in Marne-la-Vallée. At the same time, in the Gers, the last wines of the 1991 harvest were going through the still; those of 1992 would follow the next winter, once the harvest was in and the wine was made.
Our 1992 armagnacs, house by house
Here are the seven producers who entrust us with their 1992. From one estate to another, the grape variety, the strength and the length of ageing change the face of the brandy:
- Armagnac Delord, a family house in Lannepax since 1893: a 1992 at 40% ABV, in 70 cl and magnum, very aromatic on the nose with vanilla, oak and a hint of cinnamon, with tannins from ageing still present on the palate;
- Château de Laubade, in Sorbets, in Bas-Armagnac: a 1992 at 40% ABV, aged in 420 litre Gascon oak casks, with plum, vanilla, toast and bread, balanced, with young but already integrated tannins;
- Dartigalongue, in Nogaro since 1838: a 1992 at 42% ABV, with candied fruit, white flowers and a minty touch, indulgent and round; and a Single Cask 1992 from cask no. 057 alone, bottled at 46% ABV in a limited series of 498 numbered bottles, with sandalwood, citrus, leather and a lightly smoky finish;
- Armagnac Castarède, a house founded in 1832: a 1992 at 40% ABV, which spent 28 years in oak casks before being bottled in 2020;
- Baron de Sigognac, at Château de Bordeneuve: a 1992 at 40% ABV, from ugni blanc and baco, golden in colour, fresh and elegant with citrus and candied fruit, and a long vanilla finish;
- Domaine de Pellehaut, in Ténarèze: a brut de fût at 49% ABV, 100% folle blanche, lively yet expressive with peach and greengage, gold medal at the Talents de l'Armagnac 2020 and silver medal at the Concours général agricole de Paris 2012;
- Jean Cavé, a distiller and ageing house in Lannepax since 1883: a brut de fût at 45.2% ABV, bottled with no added water.
The single cask and the two brut de fût bottlings can also be found among our brut de fût armagnacs, for lovers of natural strength.
The aromatic profile of 1992 armagnac
After three decades in the cellar, our 1992s remain lively and expressive, with lovely freshness and oak that is still present. The noses range from citrus and white flowers to plum, vanilla and toast; the palates, from round and indulgent (Dartigalongue, Sigognac) to more tannic (Delord), all the way to the fruity liveliness of folle blanche at Pellehaut. Sweet spices, cinnamon first and foremost, appear at Delord; fine length on the palate is found in almost all of them. The colour ranges from amber to gold. A 1992 at 40% ABV stays soft, a single cask at 46% ABV gains breadth, and a brut de fût close to 50% ABV shows intensity.
The art of tasting a 1992 armagnac
Serve it at room temperature, in a tulip glass, with no ice or water for a first approach. Swirl gently, breathe it in from a distance, then closer. Hold the glass in the palm of your hand for a few minutes: armagnac opens up as it warms. Taste in small sips, letting the brandy coat the palate. At the end of a meal, it goes with dark chocolate, crème brûlée or an apple tart.
Giving a 1992 armagnac: 34 today, 40 in 2032
In 2026, those born in 1992 blow out 34 candles, and couples married that year celebrate 34 years together; the 40th will come in 2032. A bottle from their year, harvested and distilled when they had just been born or had just said yes, makes a singular gift. The numbered Dartigalongue single cask will appeal to the collector; the Delord magnum will suit a family celebration; the 70 cl bottle, in a case or a gift box depending on the house, remains the most common choice.
How to store a 1992 armagnac
Never lay it down: a bottle of armagnac is stored upright, somewhere dark and at a stable temperature, to preserve the cork. Unopened, it keeps for decades. Once opened, it stays enjoyable for several months; when it reaches the last third, it is best not to wait too long.
Frequently asked questions about 1992 armagnac
What is the best 1992 armagnac?
The best is the one that suits the person's taste. In terms of awards, the Pellehaut brut de fût won gold at the Talents de l'Armagnac 2020; in terms of rarity, the Dartigalongue Single Cask exists in only 498 bottles; in terms of softness, Laubade, Castarède and Sigognac at 40% ABV are the most approachable.
Which grape varieties for the 1992 armagnac?
Ugni blanc, baco, folle blanche and colombard, depending on the estate. The Pellehaut 1992 is pure folle blanche, the Sigognac combines ugni blanc and baco, and the Laubade brings together four grape varieties.
What makes the 1992 armagnac stand out?
Its age, a little over thirty years in cask, which still leaves room for fruit and freshness, and the diversity of our selection: reduced, single cask and brut de fût.
How much do 1992 armagnacs cost?
Prices depend on the house, the bottle size and the strength. The price of each bottle is shown on its product page.
Where can I find a 1992 armagnac online?
At Plaisirs de Gascogne, an online wine and spirits merchant dedicated to vintage armagnacs: bottles direct from the estates, secure payment, delivery in France and across Europe in protective packaging.
Also discover the 1990 armagnac and our full range of vintage armagnacs, year by year.
Please enjoy responsibly. Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to health.
Jean Cavé
113 bottles
Armagnac Delord
92 bottles
Baron de Sigognac
90 bottles
Château de Millet
83 bottles
Sempé
82 bottles
Dartigalongue
77 bottles
Marcel Trépout
72 bottles
Clés des Ducs
67 bottles
Château de Monluc
64 bottles
Armagnac Castarède
63 bottles
Château de Laubade
42 bottles
Château de Bordeneuve
32 bottles
