2018 Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon, Henschke, Eden Valley

2018 Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon, Henschke, Eden Valley

This is the 40th anniversary of this single vineyard production. This is an elegant and fresh example of Eden Valley Cabernet. Lively and vibrant on the nose with soft herbs, pea shoots, black cherry, cassis and very ripe plum. Supple on the palate with dark chocolate and licorice. Fresh acidity and fine, linear tannin.

Critic score
94.5/100 info

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Wine details

  • Region & country
    Eden Valley, Barossa, South Australia, Australia
  • Grape
    97% Cabernet Sauvignon
    2% Merlot
    1% Cabernet Franc
  • Maturity
    Ready 2023 - 2035info
  • Colour
    Red
  • Sweetness
    Dry
  • Style
    Still
  • Unit Volume
    Bottle (75cl.)
  • ABV
    14.5%

Tasting notes

The 2018 vintage of the Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon marks the 38th release of this wine. The 3.2-hectare single vineyard from which the fruit hails is planted on a combination of sandy loam and clay, over a bedrock of mica schist. The 2018 Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, matured in a combination of new (10%) and seasoned (the balance) French oak hogsheads for 18 months prior to blending and bottling. On the nose, tobacco leaf, blackberry, resin/tar, salted licorice and vanilla pod rise to the fore. In the mouth, the wine is fluid, pretty and composed, with a restrained outlay of flavors across the long finish. I had thought initially that the wine displayed aromatically as quite green; a glance at the numbers told me this might be unlikely (14.5% alcohol, pH 3.56, total acidity 6.5 gram per liter); however, there are certainly inflections in the mouth that support this notion. This is very elegant. The cassis is revealed as the wine opens. Give it time.

Erin Larkin, robertparker.com (April 2023)
93+/100

Some of the vines for this wine were planted by Cyril Henschke back in the 1960s. Matured in French oak (10% new) for 18 months. Bright blackberry and blackcurrant fruits with top notes of redcurrant and red cherry. Olive tapenade, cedar, light briar notes and mountain herbs. Fine lacy acidity and tight, powdery tannin provide the frame, and there is no doubt that this release will age magnificently.

Dave Brooks, Halliday’s Wine Companion (March 2023)
96/100

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