Henschke Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon Eden Valley South Australia Australia 2018 (14.5% ABV) – 90.3
SF | Intense color, garnet at the rim, just a hint of oxidation behind the figs and plums, a touch of woodsmoke and cigar box, eucalypt and pumice. The palate takes on its own allusive patchwork, violets and pot pourri to the fore, a gentle lift and a cascading, gently tapering finish. Maturing quite rapidly, this one is contemplating its early middle age when most of its peers are still navel gazing with the seriousness that we may all recall from the distant days of our adolescence. 89
AR | With a hint of garnet at the rim of the glass, this is showing signs of evolution, despite its relative youth, confirmed by notes of ginger spice, mint, and sun-dried tomato in its aromas, and a fruit quality that's already evolving quite rapidly, even to the point where the savory notes are at risk of becoming the dominant feature; a wine whose future is at this stage unclear, given the benefit of the doubt for its savory qualities, and with robust food, this could be really appealing, even if I wouldn't bank on cellaring it for any great length of time. 91
DW | Signs of maturity and a softer cast to the fruit, mellowing but with a slight burned-oak character, with cherry, blackberry, and balsamic tones. Succulence reigns on the palate, with nice soft tannins, that burned-oak tone coming through again on the finish. 91