Hester Creek Estate Winery has recently released four excellent wines including two new reds from the 2020 vintage. Before going to the tasting notes here is winemaker Mark Hopley’s comment on that harvest and vintage.
Harvest 2020
The 2020 harvest should make for some exceptional quality wines. We had a very warm September, which saw the white varieties on our Golden Mile Bench vineyard ripen relatively early. The harvest lasted two months, starting with Gewürztraminer on September 3 for our Prosecco style sparkling wine, Ti Amo. This was followed shortly thereafter with our Old Vines Pinot Blanc, which was first planted on our estate in 1968. The white varietals overall show plenty of flavours and ample acidity.
On the red side, we were pleased to see the warm September continue into early October, which enabled ample Brix levels in the fruit for ideal ripening and plenty of flavour development. The lack of rain this summer definitely showed in the fruit, offering rich colours and concentrated flavours.
We were somewhat surprised by an early snow event October 23rd, fortunately, most wines were fermenting by this point. The cool weather that followed, made picking a challenge. However, our vineyard crews were up to the task, as we completed the harvest with some exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon on November 2.
Overall the 2020 growing season in the Oliver Osoyoos region was the 5th warmest in the last 23 years. Our impressions of this favourable growing season are concentrated flavours, ample acidity, and plentiful colour, which we believe will make for an exceptional vintage.
Mark Hopley
Harvest Creek Pinot Blanco 2021 ($21.99)
This vintage was made predominantly from Blocks 4 and 9 of the Golden Mile estate vineyard with a third of the grapes from the Stone’s Throw vineyard in Oliver. The lots were hand-picked, sorted and the whole berry was pressed to capture the delicate aromatics and flavours. Most of the juice was stainless steel fermented with 13% fermented in two French oak barrels. The fermentation lasted 32 days at 12OC. Then the wine aged for 5 months on fine lees before blending and bottling.
13.2% Alcohol / pH 3.4 / TA 7.5 / RS 5
Subtle aromas of apple and pear with a hint of white flower scent. The refreshing dry wine has a creamy mouthfeel with flavours of ripe apple and lemon/lime zest. An excellent version of the Italian classic. 90 Points
The wine was perfectly paired with mushrooms and shellfish.
Hester Creek Syrah 2020 ($29.99)
This vintage was made primarily with handpicked fruit from the Golden Mile Bench estate and a small percentage from two local growers in Oliver and Osoyoos. The lots were fermented in Italian Ganimede fermenters then gently pressed, cross-blended and encouraged through malolactic fermentation.
Crafted in the Côte-Rôtie style, co-fermented with 15% Viognier to highlight the beautifully fresh floral and spice notes.
Aged in 60% American oak and 40% French oak barrels (2/3 were neutral barrels) for 14 months.
14.1% Alcohol / pH 3.85 / TA 6.23 / RS 0.17
A gorgeous Syrah with vibrant aromas of black fruit and a hint of violets and white pepper. The full-bodied wine has ripe smooth tannins with flavours of black cherry and blueberry, smoked meat, and more pepper. 92 Points
Hester Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 ($34.99)
The grapes for the small lot Cabernet Sauvignon are from a superb, warm site on the estate Golden Mile Bench vineyard blocks 7 and 8. They are French Clone 191 from St. Émillon and 169 from Bordeaux, which brings a ripe, approachable, rich texture to this wine. Planted over 16 years ago, the vines prefer little irrigation, producing smaller, more intense berries.
14.5% Alcohol / pH 3.78 / TA 6.75 / RS 0.29
The fruit was handpicked, sorted and destemmed. The whole berries were cold-soaked for 4 days in Italian Ganimede fermenters for ideal extraction. After fermentation on the skins, the grapes were gently pressed and underwent malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged on fine lees with fine French Oak barrels from Saint Martin and Alain Fouquet cooperage for 16 months.
The cabernet has vibrant aromas of black cherry and cassis. The full-bodied wine has flavours of blackberry, toasted oak and cloves. The ripe firm tannins lead to a long delicious finish. An age-worthy wine. 92 Points
Hester Creek Garland 2019 ($59.99)
This full-bodied Bordeaux-style blend is approximately ¾ Cabernet Sauvignon from Blocks 7 and 8 of the estate vineyard, the other varietals comprise Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot. The handpicked grapes were carefully hand sorted and cold soaked for a two-day period for ideal extraction of the aroma and flavour compounds. A gentle fermentation in Italian Ganimede tanks was followed by an extended maceration time, and then carefully pressed. After malolactic fermentation, the lots were blended and aged for 24 months in tight-grain, French oak barrels from Saint Martin, Alain Fouquet and Tonnellerie Orion. The variety of premium cooperages contributes additional layers of complexity, for a wine of beautiful depth and excellent age-ability.
14.6% Alcohol / pH 3.9 / TA 6.8 / RS 0.55
Absolutely delicious now, the Cabinet Sauvignon dominant Garland 2019 can cellar for 8+ years. Elegant, intense, muscular and full of dark fruit drama and luscious on the palate with ripe raspberry, black currant, blueberry with mint and savoury herbs. The tannins are ripe and smooth and the finish goes on forever! 94 Points
Please visit Hester Creek Estate Winery to purchase their current portfolio of BC wines.
For other Hester Creek wines released this year see – Hester Creek releases “The Judge” and Jury and Hester Creek for Flavourful 2021 Whites.