Hester Creek releases five 2018 reds

Photo: Hester Creek winery

The red wines from Hester Creek Estate Winery invariably possess a house style which makes them delicious.

I may have explained the reasons before. Bear with me one more time.

Reason No. One: The winery’s Golden Mile vineyard has one of the best terroirs in the South Okanagan.

Reason No. Two: Most of the vines are mature – more than 20 or 25 years old. In Bordeaux, vines are just hitting their stride at that age. It is the same at Hester Creek.

Reason No. Three: The Italian-made Ganimede fermenters, which only Hester Creek has in British Columbia, enable the winemakers to produce wines with long, polished tannins. The technology recirculates the fermentations gases to break up the cap of skins very gently. The extraction of harsh tannins is minimal, resulting in red wines with an appealing, generous texture.

The latest reds from the winery all show this Hester Creek finger print. And the wines are from 2018, a fine vintage in the Okanagan.

The letter that accompanied the latest reds from Hester Creek also included a note of the 2020 vintage. “Overall, the 2020 growing season in the Oliver Osoyoos region was the fifth warmest in the last 23 years,” the winery writes. “Our impressions of this favourable growing season are concentrated flavours, ample acidity and plentiful colour, which we believe will make for an exceptional vintage.”

Here are notes on five current red releases.

Hester Creek Block 2 Reserve Merlot 2018 ($25.99). The Merlot vines in the vineyard’s Block 2 are 25 years old and the wine was depth and power. Aged 16 months in oak (75% French, 25% American), the wine begins with spicy black cherry aromas. On the palate, there are flavours of black cherry, cocoa and cloves. 92.

Hester Creek Block 3 Reserve Cabernet Franc ($25.99). This wine was aged 18 months in oak (75% French, 25% American). This is a classic Cabernet Franc: savoury with aromas of black cherry and blackberry. The palate piles on layers of fruit – blackberry, blueberry, dark cherry with a note of mocha. 93.

Hester Creek Terra Unica Cabernet Syrah 2018 ($28.99 for 112 cases). This wine is exclusive to the winery’s Bench Club. It is a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Syrah and 5% Cabernet Franc, aged 16 months in barrel (70% French, 30% American). The wine begins with aromas of dark cherry mingled with smoky and meaty notes. On the palate, there are flavours of blackberry and plums. The texture is concentrated and earthy. Decanting is recommended. 92.

Hester Creek Terra Unica Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 ($28.99 for 266 cases). This wine, exclusive to the wine club members, was aged 16 months in oak (75% French, 25% American). It begins with aromas of cassis, blackberry, vanilla and herbs. On the palate, it delivers flavours of toasty oak mingled with black cherry. The ripe tannins give the wine a long and elegant finish. 93.

Hester Creek Syrah Viognier 2018 ($29.99). This is 83% Syrah and 17% Viognier, co-fermented, and aged 14 months on oak (60% American, 40% French). The wine begins with aromas of plum, blueberry, licorice and pepper. On the palate, there are flavours of dark cherry mingled with smoked meat and pepper. Long, ripe tannins give the wine a long velvety finish. 92.