The 40th anniversary of the first vintage of this wine, named after Stephen Henschke's father, fourth-generation winemaker Cyril, who first planted this Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard in 1969. And in warmer years, like 2018, the 'solar panel' slopes of this cooler site shows what fully ripened Eden Valley Cabernet can offer. Rich purple and inky blue fruits soar from the glass: cassis, mulberry, violets and an almost pine forest-like ozone freshness that brings lift and clarity to the sumptuous palate. Beautiful length, elegance and purity, with smooth graphite-like tannins and vibrant acidity. With no 2017 produced, this is worth the wait; a fitting toast to Cyril.- Tina Gellie

Some of the vines for this wine were planted by Cyril Henschke back in the 1960s. Matured in French oak (10% new) for 18 months. Bright blackberry and blackcurrant fruits with top notes of redcurrant and red cherry. Olive tapenade, cedar, light briar notes and mountain herbs. Fine lacy acidity and tight, powdery tannin provide the frame, and there is no doubt that this release will age magnificently. Closure: Screw cap. 14.5% alcohol.

Beautiful, attractive cabernet characters with cigars, tobacco leaf, currants, savory tapenade and sweet roasted chili peppers. Cocoa powder and star anise, too. Intense, but remaining fluid with a bright, red-fruited center palate followed by a lengthy, layered finish, full of Spanish chocolate and cigar box characters. Lasting almost a minute. 2% merlot and 1% cabernet franc in the blend. 10% new French oak 300 liter barrels. Drink now or hold. Screw cap. Zekun Shuai Senior Editor

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Cyril Henschke is an impressive release, retaining composure and power while starting to display a little development. Cassis and blackberry aromas are lifted by leafy, dried herb tones, while gravelly and earthy flavors provide a savory backdrop. The depth of tannins is notable, as is the composure, which holds true over a long, strong finish. Impressive. - By Angus Hughson on April 2025

(93+ points) The 2018 vintage of the Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon marks the 38th release of this wine. The 3.2-hectare single vineyard from which the fruit hails is planted on a combination of sandy loam and clay, over a bedrock of mica schist. The 2018 Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, matured in a combination of new (10%) and seasoned (the balance) French oak hogsheads for 18 months prior to blending and bottling. On the nose, tobacco leaf, blackberry, resin/tar, salted licorice and vanilla pod rise to the fore. In the mouth, the wine is fluid, pretty and composed, with a restrained outlay of flavors across the long finish. I had thought initially that the wine displayed aromatically as quite green; a glance at the numbers told me this might be unlikely (14.5% alcohol, pH 3.56, total acidity 6.5 gram per liter); however, there are certainly inflections in the mouth that support this notion. This is very elegant. The cassis is revealed as the wine opens. Give it time.- EL

Oh-so-Henschke in style, this distinctive Cab is rich and lucid, with a heady nose of stewed plums and blackcurrant cordial, and an underbelly of iodine and beet root, that leads to a silky, succulent palate that's laced with ripe, chalky, tannins, and a blackberry finish. A few years of bottle age puts this in a sexy spot now, but it can go another decade at least. — Christina Pickard

Shows a wonderful sense of refinement swirling around a core of Earl Grey tea, blackberry and huckleberry, with firm tannins, toasted herbs and spicy tobacco notes. Reveals hints of white pepper and dried rose petal that linger on the long finish, adding lovely complexity. Drink now through 2030. 400 cases made, 35 cases imported.- MW