Crawford River 2022 Henty Cabernet Sauvignon

"Dominated by a sense of linearity, the aromatic profile is built on unified lines of graphite and cherry which extend towards the olfactory horizon. The purity of these two elements is disarming. Snapping out of the reverie, I encounter complexifying notions of cedar incense, cassis, sweet blackberry, claro cigar wrapper, gravel, clove, roast red capsicum, dried vine cuttings, and dry earth. Lurking beneath: plum blossom, damp and smokey earth, and blackberry and Morello preserves. The palate is silky, caressing on entry then immediately strict with layered tannin that instead of descending seemingly rises in the palate like exposed strata on a rift or hillside. Very aloof at this youthful stage. Gravel and shale minerality presents itself, twinned with the tannins at the side of the cheeks. Red cherry, grilled red capsicum, blood orange and mandarin peels; then deeper cherry and cassis, bay and thyme, some clove and cedar. Ultimately very closed but good nascent fleshiness in the centre of the palate. Tobacco hints on the long, austere close are complemented by gastronomic, dried mandarin pith bitterness. Superb." — David