Two Hester Creek Old Vines Red Wines For You

I have more red wines coming your way.  It is the season for red wines.  The two wines that I have to review today are from Hester Creek Estate Winery.   Their “Source Collection”.  A source of inspiration, these wines represent the treasured qualities of their rare Old Vine vineyard and that of their select South Okanagan growers.  I tasted their Old Vine Merlot 2020 and Old Vine Cabernet Franc 2020.  Both wines are vegan-friendly.   I noticed that these labels have debossing (depressions instead of a raised design) behind the text of a vine and its roots.  I think it brings style to the label. I also want to mention that the corks are top quality; one solid piece of cork and quite long.  Now, let me tell you about them.

My Wine Tasting Notes

Hester Creek Estate Winery Old Vine Cabernet Franc 2020 (BC $27.99)

Appearance: A medium-plus dull garnet colour in the glass.  
Nose: Enticing aromas of juicy berries, cedar, raspberry blossoms, and touches of capsicum and tea leaves. The aromas are a bit lighter with decanting, and you start to get some sweet spices scents.
Palate: Dry, lighter body with a lean mouthfeel.  Medium acidity and fine tannins.  Bright flavours of red fruit, tart red cherries, red berries, raspberries, plus a touch of oak and candied red fruit.  This wine also has a quite prominent floral component. The wine becomes smoother and rounder with decanting.  You get the same bright flavours.  Delicious.
Finish: Medium-plus length with red cherries, tart red fruit, red licorice, floral, and light pepperiness.  Medium-intensity drying tannins. A bit lighter finish with lighter tannins after decanting.

I really enjoyed tasting this wine.  The fresh red berry aromas and flavours were exciting.  No need to decant.

Rating: A medium-plus dull garnet colour.  Medium-intensity aromas, mainly juicy berries with lesser amounts of cedar, capsicum, floral, and tea leaves.  Dry, lighter body, with a lean mouthfeel.  Red berries, red fruit, raspberries, candied red fruit, floral, and light oak flavours. Medium-plus length.

Hester Creek Estate Winery Old Vine Merlot 2020 (BC $27.99)

Appearance:  A deep, dull garnet colour, about 90% opaque.
Nose: Lighter aromas of dark fruit, burnt toast and cocoa.  I hope decanting will bring out these aromas more.  With decanting, the aromas are still quite subdued.
Palate: Dry, medium body and flavour intensity.  Soft and smooth. Dull aromas of dark fruit plus touches of cocoa, oak and pepperiness.  Medium tannins and acidity.  As with the aromas, I hope decanting will open up the flavours of this wine.  No change to the aromas with decanting.
Finish: Medium-plus length with medium-drying tannins.  Dark fruit and some bitterness.

I am a little worried that this wine has a bit of taint.  Upon first opening the bottle, I thought I smelled a whiff of cardboard.  The suppressed aromas and dull flavours make me think that this wine is tainted.  But there still was enough aromas and flavours for me to review.  I will decant this one for one more day and see if the aromas and flavours become more alive. Update:  It has now been two days of decanting and the wine’s aromas and flavours are still dull, so I, unfortunately, need to let you know that this wine is indeed tainted.  Here is the URL to Hester Creek’s note about this wine.

Rating: lightly tainted.  A deep, dull garnet colour.  Light aromas of dark fruit, burnt toast and cocoa.  Dry, medium body, medium acidity, and light fine-grained tannins.  Soft and smooth mouthfeel.  Medium intensity, dull flavours of dark fruit with touches of cocoa, oak, and pepper.  Medium-plus length.

Where Can I Buy These Wines?

You can purchase both wines through the Hester Creek winery website:

• Hester Creek Estate Winery Old Vine Merlot 2020 
• Hester Creek Estate Winery Old Vine Cabernet Franc 2020

The wines are also available at their wine shop and at select wine shops and restaurants.