"A blend of organic/biodynamically farmed 99/1% cabernet sauvignon/merlot from the Cyril Henschke vineyard in the Eden Valley from the outstanding 2021 vintage. A beautiful bright magenta/crimson in the glass with a pretty, lifted aromatic profile. Plum, blackberry and blackcurrant with notes of sage, bay leaf, dried herbs, violets and crushed stone. Fruit pure and detailed with a very long, graceful finish and superfine, powdery, granitic tannins. A wonderful release for the Cyril Henschke."
96 Points
Dave Brooks, The Halliday Wine Companion
"The 2021 Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon hails from a block planted in the 1960s and the 1980s. The vineyard is planted east-west, with vertical shoot positioned trellising, and the straw mulch underneath the vines assists in bringing out the most expression possible. Fermentation involves very gentle cap management to withdraw gentle tannins from the wine. It matured for 18 months in French oak. The nose leads with violets and crushed rocks, dried herbs and ancient, dusty earth. With 1% Merlot, this is essentially a Cabernet Sauvignon wine. The wine takes me to the ancient gums and rocky outcrops of the Eden valley, a place I am incredibly fond of. This is the loveliest Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon I can recall—sleek and evocative. 14.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap."
95 Points
Erin Larkin, The Wine Advocate
"Cabernet from this special site, ‘the grey sandy loam seems to produce cabernet without greener characters, more fruit perhaps, and seems to suit it well’, says Prue Henschke. ‘A velvety tannin rather than astringency possible from cabernet’, offers Stephen Henshcke, ‘in this vintage you’ll see only 1% of merlot to add any more complex to it! The cabernet was near complete on arrival’.
Beautiful, fragrant perfume of red plum, cassis, white pepper, sage leaf, sweet tobacco and clove with a touch of undergrowth and alpine herbs. Supple in the palate, medium weight, velvety but with a bright undercurrent of sage leaf and pepper. It’s so well balanced, even and flows beautifully with soft tannins though they lend shape and freshness attractively. Glorious harmony and drinkability."
96 Points
Mike Bennie, The Wine Front