Winemaker Notes
Deep crimson in color. Spicy and perfumed aromas of red and blackcurrant, mulberry and cassis, with nuances of violet and dried herbs, forest moss and hints of cigar box and cedar. Concentrated flavors of black and blue berry fruits, ripe mulberry and blackcurrant are complemented by rich cedar and mocha, while balanced acidity and finely structured tannins provide focus and depth, for a beautiful, lingering finish.
Pair with Wagyu rump cap with crispy tofu, pickled radish and eel sauce.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Bold, luscious blackberry and raspberry aromas take center stage, followed by subtler aromas of violet syrup, tomato jam and lovely sweet spice and herb nuances. Things get more serious on the palate, where supple and fine “cat's tongue” tannins are prominent, but well integrated into the plump fruit, with a lovely lift of acidity. This is a downright sexy Cab, with the best of Henschke all rolled into one. Drink now and for several decades to come.
Cellar Selection -
Wine Spectator
Though dark and concentrated, this is a polished, elegant presentation of blackberry, black currant and spiced plum notes, with violet, date, nutmeg and smoked paprika accents, plus rosemary, salted black licorice and tobacco hints. Impressive for the silkiness of the tannins and the presence on the long finish. Drink now through 2035.
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James Suckling
Typically sweet-scented aromas of blueberry, crushed currant, dried sage and bay leaf. Licorice lacing the tannins, a finely wrought network of pucker, compression and release, auguring for development and further nuance across a long aging window. While far from the ease of a luncheon claret, that is not, perhaps, the point. This is a full-weighted expression of cabernet that plays, at least in a regional context, a well-wrought, savory card.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2019 Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the wine leads with green peppercorn, sage, bay leaf and bramble, graphite, black tea, garden rose petals and red apples. In the mouth, the tannins are very fine and curl around the back of the palate. It has a sinewy stretch that I quite like—it is lean and pliable. It's a lovely wine that is spicy and fresh and lithe. The first vintage of the Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon was in 1978. Winemaking included submerged cap maceration, no rack and return, pressed after dryness. 14% alcohol, sealed under Vinolok (hardened glass from Czechoslovakia).
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Higher in elevation and topographically more dramatic than the Barossa Valley floor, Eden Valley abuts it to its south and east. While it is a bit of an extension of Barossa, Eden Valley is topographically different than the pastoral Barossa Valley, and is composed of rocky hills and eucalyptus groves.
Recognizing Eden Valley’s potential with Riesling in the 1960s and 70s, producers started to move their Riesling production from Barossa to these better sites where schist soils on hilltops would produce more steely, tart and age-worthy examples. A most famous site, planted by Colin Gramp, called Steingarten, today produces one of the most outstanding Australian Rieslings. Youthful Eden Valley Rieslings express floral, grapefruit and mineral, while with time in the bottle, they become increasingly toasty and complex.
Riesling isn’t the only grape the region can grow; undeniably at lower altitudes Shiraz does very well. Mount Edelstone is a notable vineyard as well as the Hill of Grace, which boasts healthy Shiraz vines well over 100 years old. This is the only Australian region where Merlot has a made a name for itself and Chardonnay can be spectacular, particularly from the High Eden subregion in the southern valley.