It’s a firm and slightly tighter wine of terrific linear structure with a bright, lively acidity, which in this vintage is particularly evident. The thread of blackcurrant fruit merges with a slightly dried herb and sage-like character. It is probably the most precisely focused of any Cyril to date, leading to its poise and defined, detailed finish.

This is a wine to make you fall in love with cabernet sauvignon and its secret weapon: tannin. The tannins are superlative, fine grained, agile, pliable, providing not only an important structural role in the 2022 cabernet but enhancing it. It’s a full-on charm offensive - words rarely written about tannin. They arrive in the wine with intent, a conduit for the delivery of intense, concentrated black fruits, dark plums with ripe dark roasting spices layered across earth, leaf, sage and undergrowth. Tannins run long and deep but, gracefully so, contributing elegance to the wine. Beautifully finished and crafted.

Lifted blackberry, black cherry and blackcurrant fruits with hints of olive tapenade, cedar, crushed herbs, bay leaf, violets and crushed rocks. Harmonious and silky in its travel with a core of ripe fruit layered with spice and herbs, fine, sandy tannins and a finish that draws out beautifully. No problem tucking this away in the cellar for an extended period.

Not only reflecting its celebrated provenance, but also a cooler vintage, this is a clear and present Cabernet with herbal high tones, capsicum and green peppercorn combining in a mint like note, perhaps rosemary as well, the palate taking in all those characters to imbue its ripe elderberry flavours with a botanical feel, gathered in the finish with soft, fine gravel dusted tannins. It has a historic feel to it, with an elegant structure and the sense its future in the bottle will last for decades.

The 2022 Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon leads with spicy red fruit, dusty baking spices and layers of dried herbs, akin to bay leaf and oregano. The tannins here are profuse yet very fine. It feels leafy and earthy, medium-bodied and fresh. I appreciate the varietal definition and delicacy here. The cooler vintage that was 2022 has birthed a tranche of wines of great delicacy and “fluffiness”/freshness. They are wonderful wines—I like the vintage so much.