Here are six excellent wines from Hester Creek Winery to support your Holiday refreshment needs. Also, check out the changes at the winery the next time you are in Oliver.
“The winery has increased its capacity in the last year with the barrel program expanded by over 30%. We have also installed four new Ganimede red wine fermentation tanks and added 138,000 litres of stainless steel tanks and tripled our chilling capacity.”
Kimberley Pylatuk, Public Relations Coordinator.
Hester Creek Signature Tastings are now open for reservations starting in February, and the Estate Tour & Tastings will commence in May.
Guests can already book in for these events, and the Estate Tour & Tasting is a great way to check out the new tanks and barrels.
Before going to the wine-tasting notes, here is a refresher on the 2020 and 2022 harvests.
Harvest 2020
“From a winemaking perspective, 2020 was an exceptional vintage in the South Okanagan. Early spring started out colder than average, but temperatures were at or above average by mid-to-late June. Following a summer that began a little later than usual, September was very warm, resulting in our vineyards seeing smaller-than-average crops with smaller grape bunches.
The vines benefited from a dry September, with a smaller berry size contributing to concentrated flavours. The warm weather in late September and early October enabled the grapes to reach ideal phenolic ripeness, with our white varietals all handpicked and fermenting in the tank by the first week of October. Following a warm start to fall, the weather turned, and we saw a rare snowfall and a freezing event in the valley on October 23rd. Fortunately, the majority of our red grapes were harvested by this time. From a temperature perspective, the 2020 vintage was the 5th warmest in growing degree days in the last 2 decades.
Overall, the 2020 season delivered exceptional quality grapes of a smaller berry size with abundant ripe fruit and beautifully enhanced flavour profiles. It is a year where the quality will be talked about for years to come, producing cellar-worthy wines.”
Mark Hopley, Winemaker
Harvest 2022
“The 2022 Harvest was one of the longest in recent memory. Following back-to-back smaller harvests in 2020 and 2021, the vineyards this season are yielding great quality and plenty of quantity. Harvest in the south Okanagan was slow to start, with low pHs and low sugars early on in September. The extremely warm, dry fall came along at just the right time for our grapes to reach phenolic ripeness and intense flavours. The whites show good aromatics and the reds have a nice intensity of colour and mouth weight. Late in the season, the weather turned cold and the remaining grapes concentrated with impressive flavours.
We started harvest on September 9th with components of our Ti Amo Prosecco style sparkling wine and continued to December 1st, finishing with our Old Vine Cabernet Franc. The 2022 vintage will be remembered for its great quality, larger yields and intense flavours.“
Hester Creek Old Vine Brut 2020 ($34.99)
From the historic 1968 Golden Mile Bench vineyard, this traditional method of sparkling wine is made with grapes from the rare Old Vine Pinot Blanc vines. The grapes were hand-sorted and whole-cluster pressed to retain the fresh primary characteristics of the fruit. The juice was then cold-settled and racked before undergoing a cool fermentation at 13°C for 28 days. Following the traditional method, the wine was re-fermented in the bottle, spending 24 months en tirage. Over these two years, the wine ages on its lees to provide the doughy mouthfeel for which Méthod Champenoise sparkling wines are renowned.
Alcohol: 12.0% / pH 2.86 / TA 7.7/ RS 2.34
Aromas of lemon zest, brioche and a hint of fresh ginger. Flavours of lemon, Bosc pear and fresh biscuits with a merry mousse and rich mouthfeel and finish. A beautifully balanced Blanc de Blanc brut that will cellar for years. It is the perfect sparkling wine for the Holidays. 93 Points
Hester Creek Character Red 2022
Deep and rich with character, this vintage of Character Red is made with handpicked fruit primarily from the Oliver estate, complimented with grapes sourced from local growers. This vintage blends Merlot, Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Malbec, including a unique clone of the old vine Merlot, originally from Italy. The grapes were carefully sorted, destemmed and gently fermented in separate lots in Ganimede fermenters. After a light pressing and malolactic fermentation, the lots were blended and aged for eight months in French (75%) and American oak (25%).
13.2% Alcohol / pH 3.9 / TA 5.5 / RS 2.6
Lively aromas of blackberry, caramel and white pepper. Full-bodied with rich flavours of black and red cherries, blueberry and dark chocolate with a long finish. 91 Points
Hester Creek Select Vineyards Cabernet Merlot 2022
50% Cabernet Franc, 38% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes are from the estate Golden Mile Bench vineyard and other Oliver Osoyoos vineyards.
The grapes were carefully sorted, destemmed and then gently fermented in Italian Ganimede tanks for rich colour and tannin extraction. After malolactic fermentation, the lots were blended and aged eight months with French and American oak.
13.4% Alcohol / pH 3.785 / TA 6.29 / RS 0.52
Aromas of black currant, dark cherry, and light toast. An easy-drinking red with rounded tannins. Flavours of blackberry, cherry, dark chocolate and cedar notes. 91 Points
Hester Creek Select Vineyards Merlot 2022
The Select Vineyards Merlot is sourced from five vineyards in the South Okanagan, including the estate Golden Mile vineyard. The grapes were harvested and sorted by hand before fermenting in Italian Ganimede tanks. After blending the lots, malolactic fermentation is encouraged, and the wine is then aged in French (60%) and American (40%) oak.
13.5% Alcohol / pH 3.66 / TA 6.04 / RS 0.79
An easy-drinking, medium-bodied and lightly oaked Merlot with aromas of plum and cherry. A soft round mouthfeel with flavours of red cherry, plum, dark chocolate and a hint of herbs. 90 points
Hester Creek The Judge 2020 ($49.99)
Five varietals were included in the blend for the 2020 vintage of The Judge. Each varietal from the Golden Mile Bench estate property was hand-harvested and cold-soaked for 48 hours before inoculation.
This year’s vintage blend is 35% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec. After secondary fermentation, the lots were blended and put into new and neutral French oak barrels for 24 months of aging. A complex Bordeaux-style blend that is cellar-worthy.
14% Alcohol / pH 3.8 / TA 6.2 / RS 0.3
On the nose are blackberry and ripe plums with dark chocolate, vanilla, leather, and dried herbs. Smooth tannins and lively acidity magnify the rich flavours of ripe black cherry, pomegranate, cocoa and a hint of vanilla and cigar. A classic BC red blend to celebrate the Holidays. 93 Points
Hester Creek Garland 2020 ($64.99)
Comprised of three varietals and leading with Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2020 Garland was handcrafted as a traditional Bordeaux-style blend. Each varietal was hand-harvested, sorted and destemmed, leaving the berries as whole as possible. Each lot was cold soaked for 48 hours before an extended fermentation, then gently pressed to showcase the phenolic ripeness and depth of colour. The Petit Verdot and Malbec were co-fermented and then blended with the Cabernet Sauvignon to age for 24 months in French oak.
81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec
14.2% Alcohol / pH 3.7 / TA 6.8 / RS 0.3
Delicious now, Garland 2020 can cellar for 8+ years. Blackberry and cedar aromas with a hint of sage. Bold and full of dark fruit drama that is luscious on the palate with ripe raspberry, black currant, and 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.