“In this series we bring you our #FavouriteThings Holiday Gift Suggestions which we personally recommend”
You can always count on Hester Creek to have just what you’re looking for this holiday. Gift giving, celebrating, host/hostess gift Hester Creek has you covered!
Here are just two wines that are always on our #FavouriteThings list!
2020 Syrah
WINE PROFILE
Tasting Notes
This sumptuous and seductive wine displays vivid cherry, blueberry and white pepper aromas with fragrant hints of violet and toasted caramel.Velvety tannins wrap around a generous and fruity palate, which is accentuated by savoury cured salami and roasted fennel flavours. Full-bodied and absolutely delicious, enjoy with cherry braised short ribs, smoked brisket, or smoked beet hummus.
Vineyard Notes
From a winemaking perspective 2020 was an exceptional vintage in the South Okanagan. Early spring started out colder than average but by mid-to-late June, temperatures were at or above average. Following a summer that began a little later than usual, September was very warm resulting in our vineyards seeing a smaller than average crop 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 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 wines that are cellar worthy.
Winemaker Notes
A lovely representation of the south Okanagan, this vintage was made primarily with handpicked fruit from our Golden Mile Bench estate, along with a small percent from two local growers in Oliver and Osoyoos. The lots were fermented in our Italian Ganimede fermenters then gently pressed, cross blended and encouraged through malolactic fermentation. Crafted in the Côte-Rôtie style, our winemaker co-fermented the wine 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 contributed a leathery/smoky component to the final blend.
2019 Cabernet Sauvignon
WINE PROFILE
Tasting Notes
Full bodied and richly layered, our Storied Series Cabernet Sauvignon is available exclusively at our winery and through the Bench Club with less than 500 cases made. This vintage expresses ripe black cherry and cocoa aromas, along with a touch of fresh cut clover. Cassis, caramel, and white pepper notes follow on the intense and flavourful palate. The wine shows a stony minerality, with a lengthy tannic finish. A brilliant showcase of Golden Mile Bench terroir. Pair with a nicely marbled, grilled steak such as Alberta Angus ribeye.
Vineyard Notes
The 2019 grape growing season in the Oliver and Osoyoos region was one of remarkable variability, with fluctuating conditions in the winter and fall, and a beautifully balanced summer. Overall Growing Degree Days (GDD) were 1598, above the 20 year average of 1474. Seasonally average temperatures with few heat spikes in the summer resulted in an even growing season. The temperatures in September were somewhat warmer than usual, however we experienced more precipitation than normal. Harvest started September 3 with the last of our white grapes picked on October 2. Our Merlot harvest was completed shortly thereafter, with the last of our reds grapes picked November 4. A severe widespread frost event throughout the entire Okanagan Valley occurred the night of October 9th. Despite this early cold snap, our remaining grapes on the vine were at the ideal maturity levels, with desired ripeness achieved. Crop levels were only slightly below normal and as a whole, the 2019 wines are showing outstanding aromatics and flavours, with bright natural acidity, and good colour and structure.
Winemaker Notes
The grapes for our small lot Cabernet Sauvignon are from a superb, warm site on our Golden Mile Bench vineyard, blocks 7 and 8*. They are French Clone 191 from St. Émillon and 169 from Bordeaux, which bring a ripe, approachable, rich texture to this wine. Planted over 15 years ago, the vines prefer little irrigation*, producing smaller, more intense berries. The fruit was handpicked, sorted, destemmed and then gently fermented in our Italian Ganimede fermenters. After 16 days* of extraction on the skins, the grapes were pressed to undergo malolactic fermentation and then barrel aged in primarily French oak barrels for 18 months. A powerhouse, yet beautifully styled wine, it will cellar gracefully for many years. *This is a reference to the icons on the front label.
AT HESTER CREEK, OUR ROOTS RUN DEEP…
from the wines crafted from historic old vines that were first planted to classic varietals in 1968, to our passion in creating an atmosphere of gracious hospitality for our guests.
Over fifty years ago, BC wine pioneer Joe Busnardo recognized the potential for growing vinifera grapes on a site reminiscent of the Italian hillsides of his youth. Many of those original plantings have thrived in the years since current owner Curt Garland’s stewardship investments have been made on this storied site in the vineyards and extensive new facilities with the goal of producing wines of renown from these renowned vineyards.
Wine notes courtesy of the winery. Images MyVanCity. I received complimentary wine to facilitate this feature.
