Henschke Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

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 the Henschke Eden Valley vineyard in the 1960s. The cabernet sauvignon vines, along with cabernet franc and merlot, are planted on a north facing slope, grown using organic and biodynamic practices. This wine celebrates the incredible beauty that emerges from the vibrant rows of the Eden Valley vineyard, revered for its texture, depth, complexity and fine-grained tannins.

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. Rainfall leading up to vintage was above average, with the heaviest rainfall events in late January and late February, which tied in well with the natural physiology of the dry-grown vines; ie, keeping leaves active at veraison and ripening. Temperatures were mild during harvest through March, warming to an Indian summer in April, allowing for a long window of picking and amazing maturities with the red varieties. Cabernet was a standout variety showing great purity and spice, colour, intensity and strikingly mature tannins. Yields were average with exceptional overall quality.

"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. 97 points, James Halliday Wine Companion (March 2016)"