2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Cyril Henschke

100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaker Stephen Henschke. Single-vineyard site at 470 m replanted in 1988. Well-drained duplex soils include sandy loam over gravel and bedrock, patches of clay, and sandy loam over clay. Managed using organic and biodynamic practices, with a compost enriched layer covered by straw mulch under vine, and permanent swards mid row. A mild and dry winter was followed by a dry and windy spring, with frost events in  September and November that disrupted budburst and young shoot growth. A hailstorm in  late November impacted the fresh young shoots. Warmer than average January and February, including the hottest summer’s day on record, led to the advancement of maturity and early onset of vintage. Warm weather in late summer maintained low disease pressure and small berry size, providing optimal ripening conditions. ‘Despite minuscule yields, 2019 was a high-quality vintage with beautiful expressions of varietal character’. Picked 10–15 April, with the top, middle and bottom of the slope picked separately, and kept separate throughout  vinification. Grapes were destemmed and lightly crushed into traditional concrete, open-top fermenters, before being ‘headed-down’ (submerged-cap fermentation). Pumpovers twice  daily. After 7–10 days and just prior to reaching dryness, the fermentations were  gently pressed to barrel with the primary fermentation finishing in French oak (32% new and  68% seasoned) hogsheads. Matured for 18 months in oak before assemblage and bottling, with the wine remaining in bottle for a further three years before its release. Blackish crimson. Quite subtle and saline with strong treacle-toffee notes. A bit of tar but great concentration without over-oaking or excess alcohol. (JR)