97 POINTS
Ray Jordan - Winepilot
There is a very strong case that this might be the best Cyril yet released. It was first produced as a single vineyard wine back in 1978 from vines planted in 1969. From the 1990s, it’s been coming from Stephen and Prue’s vineyard planted in 1988. In many ways, this marks a slightly different direction for the Cyril, although the essential D stylistic varietal expression remains strong. It’s a firm and slightly tighter wine of terrific linear structure with a bright, lively acidity, which in this vintage is particularly evident. The thread of blackcurrant fruit merges with a slightly dried herb and sage-like character. It is probably the most precisely focused of any Cyril to date, leading to its poise and defined, detailed finish. Surprisingly, in some ways, it gets just a 5% smidgeon of new oak with the remainder seasoned. So you are getting a clear window into the vineyard and the vintage influence.
96 POINTS
Dave Brookes - Halliday Wine Companion
100% cabernet sauvignon matured in French oak hogsheads (5% new) for 20 months. Lifted blackberry, black cherry and blackcurrant fruits with hints of olive tapenade, cedar, crushed herbs, bay leaf, violets and crushed rocks. Harmonious and silky in its travel with a core of ripe fruit layered with spice and herbs, fine, sandy tannins and a finish that draws out beautifully. No problem tucking this away in the cellar for an extended period.
95 POINTS
Tom Kline - Winepilot
From a single vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon on Henschke’s Eden Valley property — farmed organically and biodynamically — and aged twenty months in French oak hogsheads (5% new, 95% seasoned) before bottling. Cassis, plum, bay leaf and flickers of gravel and graphite on the nose, with air unlocking earthy tones and glimmers of eucalyptus. The palate shows elegance and power — blackcurrant, bay leaf, a mintiness woven through the acidity — with lovely integrated tannin structure drawing to a long finish. This is yet another wine from the Henschke stable that forbids you to pigeonhole the Eden Valley, as this wine places itself firmly in the pantheon of Australian Cabernet.
95 POINTS
Ken Gargett - Winepilot
From the Cyril Henschke Vineyard in Eden Valley, maturation is in French oak hogsheads for a period of twenty months. 5% of the hogsheads are new. This wine was first made with the 1978 vintage and since then, it has established itself as one of the very finest Cabernets, not just from this region, but from Australia. Deep maroon in colour, the nose reveals aromas of bay leaves, blackberries, coffee grinds, cloves, cranberries, hints of bergamot and dried herbs, cold tea and charcuterie, with black fruits. There is an appealing savouriness throughout with good intensity of flavour. The structure is slightly foursquare and austere at this stage, but there is serious length with a supple texture and satiny tannins. A wine of focus and underlying concentration, this will drink beautifully for at least the next two decades.
95 POINTS
Erin Larkin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The 2022 Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon leads with spicy red fruit, dusty baking spices and layers of dried herbs, akin to bay leaf and oregano. The tannins here are profuse yet very fine. It feels leafy and earthy, medium-bodied and fresh. I appreciate the varietal definition and delicacy here. The cooler vintage that was 2022 has birthed a tranche of wines of great delicacy and "fluffiness"/freshness. They are wonderful wines—I like the vintage so much. According to Henschke: "This wine was named in tribute to fourth-generation winemaker Cyril Henschke, a passionate pioneer of single-vineyard, single-varietal wines. The Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon was first produced as a single-vineyard wine in 1978, originally from vines planted by Cyril in 1969. Since the early 1990s, the fruit has come from Stephen and Prue's 1988 planting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc in the same vineyard, and incredible beauty that emerges from the vibrant rows of the north-facing site. This wine is revered for its texture, depth, complexity and fine-grained tannins." This wine was not produced in 2011 and 2017.
95 POINTS
Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front
Henschke’s Cyril Henschke Cabernet is 100% cabernet sauvignon grown on the Henschke Eden Valley property – which is managed with organic and biodynamic practices. It’s matured in 5% new and 95% seasoned French oak hogsheads for 20 months. Cyril Henschke planted cabernet in the 1960s – the first release of a Cyril Henschke cabernet was in 1978 – though for many, many years now this wine has been produced off Stephen and Prue’s 1988 plantings. I love how distinctly this wine tastes of cabernet. It’s fresh and boysenberried with redcurrant, blackcurrant, bay leaf, mint and tobacco notes running enthusiastically throughout. It feels ultra young, almost nervy, and includes a green-olive-soaked-in-tonic-water kind of character – I’m tempted to use the word minerally – though it’s all sluiced with cleansing acidity and long, firm-but-silken tannin. There’s ample depth on offer here, and the structure to go with it, but there’s also freshness and energy. It’s terrifically good.
