2022 Henschke Marble Angel Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley

This year celebrates the 10th vintage of the Marble Angel, a single-vineyard cabernet sauvignon from Light Pass in the Barossa Valley. It's a graceful, fruit-pure release. All perfectly ripened blackberry, black cherry and blackcurrant fruits with an array of fine spice, crème de cassis, tobacco pouch, softly spoken cedar tones, cold tea, licorice and earth. There is a chocolatey edge to the tannins this year as they melt in the mouth, the cassis-rich fruit flowing nicely on the extended finish.

95 points Dave Brookes winecompanion.com.au

Henschke Marble Angel Cabernet Sauvignon is a bold yet refined single-vineyard wine from the Barossa Valley, showcasing the Henschke family's commitment to crafting expressive, site-driven wines with poise and longevity. Sourced from a cool site in the Eden Valley sub-region of Barossa, the Marble Angel vineyard is named in honour of a historic marble statue near the property, a symbol of timelessness, beauty and strength, qualities mirrored in the wine itself.

Made from low-yielding Cabernet Sauvignon vines grown in gravelly loam over clay and shale, this wine is handled with the same meticulous approach that defines the Henschke portfolio. Fermentation occurs in small open-top fermenters with hand plunging and pump-overs, followed by maturation in a mix of new and seasoned French oak barrels for 18 months.

The nose is rich and brooding, with layers of blackcurrant, cassis, crushed herbs, cigar box, dark chocolate and violets. The palate is full bodied yet poised, showing a core of ripe black fruit, graphite, bay leaf and savoury spice. The tannins are firm but polished, with great line and length, and the finish is long, dry and finely structured.

Food pairing: exceptional with dry-aged ribeye, slow-cooked lamb shoulder, venison with juniper, truffle mash or hard cheeses like aged cheddar or Mimolette.

Cellar potential: built to age. While expressive now after a long decant, it will evolve gracefully over 15 to 25 years, gaining earthy, cedar and tertiary layers with time in bottle.