This wine was named in tribute to fourth-generation winemaker Cyril Henschke (1924-1979), in recognition of his impact as one of Australia’s outstanding winemakers and 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 celebrates the 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.
(Not produced in 2011, 2014 and 2017.)
Henschke Hill of Grace 2018, Hill of Roses 2018, Mount Edelstone 2018, The Wheelwright 2018 and Cyril Henschke 2018 are available through fine wine retailers, restaurants and the Henschke Cellar Door and website.
REVIEWS & ACCOLADES
“Rich purple and inky blue fruits soar from the glass: cassis, mulberry, violets and an almost pine forest-like ozone freshness that brings lift and clarity to the sumptuous palate. Beautiful length, elegance and purity, with smooth graphite-like tannins and vibrant acidity.”
97 POINTS – TINA GELLIE, DECANTER
“The wine is beautifully perfumed…Florals, raspberries, tobacco leaves, cherries, cigar box notes and bay leaves. There is excellent length here, good focus and fine acidity…Aniseed and cherry notes are to the fore on the palate and there are such soft tannins. A gentle sour plum character is sitting right at the end of the very long finish. Drive over the next twenty years.”
97 POINTS – KEN GARGETTT, WINEPILOT
“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.”
96 POINTS – DAVE BROOKES, HALLIDAY WINE COMPANION
“Beautiful, attractive cabernet characters with cigars, tobacco leaf, currants, savory tapenade and sweet roasted chili peppers. Cocoa powder and star anise, too. Intense, but remaining fluid with a bright, red-fruited center palate followed by a lengthy, layered finish, full of Spanish chocolate and cigar box characters. Lasting almost a minute.”
96 POINTS – ZEKUN SHUAI, JAMES SUCKLING
“Striking violet character on the nose, along with concentrated dark berry, liquorice and slate punch that gives Cabernet signature combined with a deft, sculpted feel. There are tannins here, contributing weight through the mid palate, with a eucalyptus-mint two-step that keeps things mouthwatering.”
96 POINTS – JANE ANSON, INSIDE BORDEAUX
“…the joyous red fruits and cassis countered by an injection of dried herbs with fennel, sage leading from the front and the afore-mentioned sweet indulgence of lovely, arresting spice.”
96 POINTS – JENI PORT, WINEPILOT
“Singularly elegant and graceful, with precise judgment of oak and handling of tannins.”
95 POINTS – JAMES HALLIDAY, THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN
“Deep, dark red with a trace of purple remaining, and a bouquet of pepper/spice, ironstone and smoky/graphite-like earthiness, the palate full bodied and firm, robust and firm with dried-herb and leather nuances. Long-lasting finish. Excellent wine.”
95 POINTS – HUON HOOKE, THE REAL REVIEW
“Medium deep crimson. Intense cassis, roasted chestnut aromas with sage, herb garden notes. Inky deep blackcurrant, redcurrant fruits, fine chalky/ lacy tannins, lovely buoyancy, roasted walnut vanilla notes and fresh linear acidity. Finishes grainy firm and tight. Attractive claret style wine with impressive fruit complexity and mineral torque.”
95 POINTS – ANDREW CAILLARD MW, THE VINTAGE JOURNAL
“Svelte, elegant and focused, with layered tannins, mint, bramble and blackcurrant leaf flavours, a whiff of violet and the granular tannins that are a Henschke hallmark.”
95 POINTS – TIM ATKIN MW, TIMATKIN.COM
“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…This is very elegant. The cassis is revealed as the wine opens. Give it time.”
93+ POINTS – ERIN LARKIN, THE WINE ADVOCATE
“Firm, with crisp tannins and upright fruit, this has yet to mellow and turn the corner, but it will flesh out given age and become a more luxurious wine than is apparent right now. But do not expect this wine to ever offer overt fruit-sweetness and opulence.”
18.5/20 – MATTHEW JUKES, MATTHEWJUKES.COM
“Transparent, shaded garnet. Intense, decongestant sort of aroma. Very unlike a French or California Cabernet! None of that rich, sweet concentration. Earthy menthol and lively freshness on the palate. Medium persistence and then it really comes back like a boomerang to an incredibly long, throat-clearing mechanism. Amazingly fresh and sprightly for a 14.5% wine, with very light tannins and light salinity on the end of the palate.”
17/20 – JANCIS ROBINSON, JANCISROBINSON.COM