Henschke Cyril Henschke (Various Vintages)

This single vineyard Cabernet was named after the Late Cyril Henschke who purchased this Eden Valley property in the 1970s. It now comprises small elements of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Soils are well drained with sandy loams over gravel and patches of clay. Early vintages were partially barrel fermented and matured in American oak. Nowadays the wine – after vinification in headed down open fermenters – completes fermentation and 18 months maturation in 100% new French oak: mainly Vosges, Alliers and Berce. The style has come through quite an evolution – the wines show more finesse and balance than ever before. Cyril Henschke Cabernet is a very perfumed wine with intense pure blackcurrant cedar meaty characters, fine grained tannins and savoury/vanillin oak complexity.Andrew Caillard MWThe Henschke name is perhaps better known for the Hill of Grace, but for me its premier red is one that since the 1981 vintage has stood head and shoulders above most other Australian cabernet-based wines. From the Eden Valley comes this wine of great depth and style which develops along the classic cedar and cigarbox lines of top Medoc reds in ripe years.Jeremy Oliver