Henschke Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon

Henschke Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon bottle image

Wine Description

This wine carries the name of Stephen’s father, Cyril Henschke (1924-1979), as a tribute to one of Australia’s outstanding winemaking pioneers, renowned for old-vine single-vineyard and quality varietal table wines. Cyril planted cabernet sauvignon at Henschke’s Eden Valley vineyard in the 1960s.

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Acclaim
"79% cabernet sauvignon, 15% cabernet franc, 7% merlot, vinified separately, matured in French hogsheads (38% new) for 18 months. This is one of Australia's greatest cabernets, staring down Coonawarra and Margaret River (just for starters). The argument evaporates when you admit - as you must - that those wines are in such different styles it's an apples and oranges comparison. The real comparison is between this and Mount Mary. It has a purity and elegance that puts it in a class of its own."
— James Halliday, Oct 2016
"A commandingly rich regal wine. Dark cherry and cassis amid gently leafy notes, dark chocolate and red plum compote. The palate has impressive depth with silky tannins. Boysenberry, ripe blueberry and plum fruits sit sweet and vibrant. Best in 2020 and two decades beyond at least. Screw Cap. Blend of 78% cabernet sauvignon, 15% cabernet franc and 7% merlot."
— James Suckling, Jul 2017
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Vineyard & Production Info
Vineyard name
Eden Valley Vineyard
Soil composition
Sandy loam over gravel and bedrock with patches of clay
Elevation:
1,640 feet
Harvest time:
19 March-4 April
First vintage of this wine:
1978
Average Vine Age:
30 years
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Winemaking & Aging
Varietal composition:
78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15 % Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot
Fermentation container:
Traditional open-top concrete fermentation tanks
Malolactic fermentation:
Full
Fining agent:
Vegan
Type of aging container:
Hogsheads
Type of oak:
French
Length of aging before bottling:
18 months
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Analytical Data
pH level:
3.5
Acidity:
7.3 g/L
Alcohol:
14 %
Residual sugar:
1.2 g/L
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Wine Production

Cabernet was a standout variety showing great purity and spice, colour, intensity and strikingly mature tannins. Yields were average with exceptional overall quality. Matured in 38% new and 62% seasoned French oak hogsheads for 18 months prior to blending and bottling.

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About the Vineyard

The La Niña pattern weakened during the lead-up to the 2012 vintage, resulting in below average winter and spring rainfall. July was the driest since the serious drought of 2003. Spring was mild with few frost events; however, flowering and fruit set were affected by wet drizzly weather in mid to late November, leading to only average yields. Summer was also surprisingly mild with below average temperatures from southerlies off the ocean in January and only two short heat events, at New Year and at the end of February. This provided for slow ripening which allowed for intense fruit flavours, high colour figures, high acidity and mature tannins