Henschke Cyril Henschke 2022

There is a very strong case that this might be the best Cyril yet released. It was first produced as a single vineyard wine back in 1978 from vines planted in 1969. From the 1990s, it’s been coming from Stephen and Prue’s vineyard planted in 1988. In many ways, this marks a slightly different direction for the Cyril, although the essential D stylistic varietal expression remains strong. 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. Surprisingly, in some ways, it gets just a 5% smidgeon of new oak with the remainder seasoned. So you are getting a clear window into the vineyard and the vintage influence.