Hester Creek exploits its fine terroir

 

 

 

                                     Photo: Hester Creek proprietor Curt Garland

 

Hester Creek Estate Winery and its wines comprise a poster child to terroir.

 

The vineyard is one of the oldest and best vineyards on the Golden Mile. The winery tells the story succinctly on its website. I take the liberty of reproducing it here.

 

Fifty years ago, Hester Creek’s grapevines were first planted on the property by Italian immigrant Joe Busnardo with varietals that he had grown up with in northern Italy. The perfect location for European vinifera grapes, the site just south of Oliver was on a sun drenched, bench with sloping hills that facilitate a longer growing season. Virtually unheard of at the time for British Columbia, over 80 classic European vinfera grapes were planted on the then 76 acre property. 

Several of those original varietals planted by Joe have thrived over the past half century with the Pinot Blanc, Trebbiano, “Italian Merlot” and Cabernet Franc flourishing on Hester Creek’s estate. These old vines have an intensity and certain elegance about them, that cannot be reproduced and bring a sense of old world Italy to our vineyard.

Over the years we have added to the classic mix of varietals with additional plantings in the early 1970s of Merlot in Block 2 and Pinot Blanc in Blocks 4 and 9 of the vineyard. This has since been followed by plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Pinot Gris, Sémillon, and Syrah.

Our estate now comprises of 115 acres. A distinctive terroir, our well draining, alluvial fan soil is on a unique west to east sloping bench that also breaks north to south, which enables the grapes to benefit from an extended frost-free season in both the spring and fall.

Here are notes on three wines released in late summer by Hester Creek.

 

Hester Creek Ti Amo 2019

($19.99 for 300 cases). With this wine, Hester Creek has joined the ranks of those B.C. producers making bubble. In style and in price, the wine is aimed at the Prosecco category. It is made with Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer and a touch of Sémillon. It has flavours and aromas of peaches and apples. The bubbles give it a creamy texture while the finish is crisp. 90.

 

Hester Creek Chardonnay 2019 

($21.99 for 825 cases). This is a very attractive wine at this price. Two-thirds of the wine was fermented in stainless steel, one-third in French oak barrels. The wine was aged eight months in French
oak, accounting for the subtle notes of vanilla and butterscotch mingled with flavours of apple and pear. 91.

 

 

Hester Creek Garland 2017 ($55.99 for 400 cases). This wine, named for Hester Creek proprietor Curt Garland, is one of the winery’s two flagship red wines. This is

84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Malbec, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Merlot. The wine has aged 24 months in barrel. This is a bold and satisfying red (decanting is recommended). The aromas of black cherry and cassis are echoed on the palate, mingled with blackberry, chocolate and vanilla. 93.