Six months ago, in August 2025, I tasted BC’s Hester Creek Estate Vineyard Garland 2022 and The Judge 2022 Bordeaux-style red blends. These are their top tier Origin wines. Both wines were made in the epic year of 2022 when weather conditions and the harvest was perfect. At that time I first tasted these wines, both tied in my wine rating. Now, six months later, I retasted new bottles of these two wines. How have these wines evolved in the bottle? Is one significantly better/different compared to the other, and to itself, six months ago? Let’s find out. I did not read my past tasting notes before I wrote these notes, so no bias.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Hester Creek Estate Vineyard The Judge 2022 (BC $49.99)
The Judge 2022, is made with 47% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Petit Verdot, and 1% Malbec. Winemaker’s notes, “The long growing season of 2022 made for an extensive harvest with all the grapes being hand picked. The Petit Verdot and Malbec were the first to be harvested on October 12, and were followed by the Cabernet Sauvignon on October 27, Merlot on October 28, and finally the Cabernet Franc on December 1. Each bunch of grapes was hand sorted and destemmed into our Ganimede fermentation tanks where they were cold soaked for two days prior to fermentation. The Petit Verdot and Malbec were co-fermented with the rest of the lots being fermented separately. After the primary and malolactic fermentations, the lots were blended and barrelled down into a combination of new and neutral French oak for a subtle oak integration. They were aged in their respective barrels for 24 months, then racked, cross blended and bottled on May 7, 2025.”
Appearance: A deep, dull garnet colour. About 85% opaque.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity aromas of ripe black fruit, black plums, sweet spices and touches of oak, black pepper and red cherries. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dry, medium body with a smooth, soft mouthfeel. Soft velvety tannins and medium acidity. Soft fruit flavours, of juicy black fruits, cherries and a touch of oak. No change to the flavours or body after decanting.
Finish: Medium-plus length, finishing with juicy, sweet black fruits, red fruits, plums, and touches of pepperiness and candied red cherries. Lightly drying tannins on the finish. No changes on the finish.
A delicious wine that is not over the top with aromas or flavours. Complementary aromas and flavours, with soft tannins. No need to decant. Open and enjoy at your leisure.
Rating: 
– Hester Creek Estate Vineyard The Judge 2022 shows a deep, dull garnet colour with medium-minus aromas of ripe black fruits, black plums and sweet spices, accented by touches of oak, black pepper and red cherries. Dry and medium bodied, it offers a smooth, soft texture with velvety tannins and medium acidity, delivering juicy black fruits, cherries and a light note of oak. The medium-plus finish lingers with sweet black and red fruits, plums, hints of pepperiness and candied red cherries, framed by lightly drying tannins.
Hester Creek Estate Vineyard Garland 2022 (BC $64.99)
Garland 2022, is made with 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec, and 9% Petit Verdot. Winemaker’s notes, “Made up of four varietals, the Petit Verdot and Malbec were hand harvested on October 12, with the Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc being handpicked on November 9. All the bunches were hand sorted and destemmed with the whole berries going into our Ganimede fermentation tanks to be cold soaked for two days prior to fermentation. The Petit Verdot and Malbec were co-fermented to create an infusion of aromas and flavours, and the Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc were fermented separately to pull out its distinctive characteristics. The lots were then cross blended and barrelled down into exclusively French oak where they aged for 24 months and were subsequently racked, blended and bottled in May 2025.”
Appearance: An almost opaque garnet-black colour in the glass.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity aromas of nutmeg and other sweet spices, plums, black fruit, and oak. There is less nutmeg and more plum and black fruit aromas after decanting.
Palate: This wine is dry, medium-plus body with a thicker, round, velvety smooth mouthfeel. Sweet, ripe black fruit, black cherries plus touches of candied black cherries, vanilla and oak on the palate. Medium acidity and tannins. No change to the body or flavours to this wine after decanting.
Finish: Medium-plus to long length finishing with flavours of ripe, juicy black fruits, cherries, some sweet spices and oak. A thicker mouthfeel to the finish. Medium-plus drying tannins on the finish. Add some pepperiness to the finish after decanting.
This red blend has deep aromas and flavours. Full bodied with dark fruit flavours. No need to decant as there are very few changes.
Rating: – Hester Creek Estate Vineyard Garland 2022 is almost opaque garnet-black colour with medium-minus aromas of nutmeg and sweet spices layered with plums, black fruit and oak, shifting more toward plum and dark fruit with decanting. Dry and medium-plus in body, this wine delivers a thicker, round, velvety texture with ripe black fruits, black cherries, hints of candied cherries, vanilla and oak, supported by medium acidity and tannins. The finish is medium-plus to long, lingering with juicy black fruits, sweet spices and oak, supported by medium-plus drying tannins and a subtle touch of pepperiness.
August 2025 Wine Tasting Notes
Rating: – Hester Creek Estate Winery Garland 2022 shows an opaque black-garnet colour with aromas of capsicum, plums, red fruits, cocoa, cinnamon, and cedar, which transition to black fruit aromas after decanting. The palate is silky and smooth with red and black fruits, plums, black cherries, and touches of cinnamon, vanilla, candied cherries, and pepper, gaining more juicy berry and floral notes with air. It finishes medium-plus to long with bright red fruits, sweet cherries, cinnamon, pepper, and oak, supported by medium drying tannins.
Rating: – Hester Creek Estate Winery The Judge 2022 shows a deep garnet colour with aromas of red and black fruits, plums, toast, vanilla, sweet spices, cherries, and oak, remaining consistent after decanting. The palate is medium bodied with a smooth mouthfeel, offering juicy berries, plums, cherries, sweet spice, pepper, and hints of capsicum and cocoa, supported by medium acidity and chalky tannins. It finishes medium-plus to long with ripe fruit, lingering cherry, candied notes, and light pepper, adding some tarter fruit flavours after decanting.
Tasting Notes Differences
Hester Creek Estate Winery Garland 2022
Six months ago the Garland showed an opaque black-garnet colour. Today, it remains almost opaque garnet-black. There is no significant visual shift.
Earlier, the aromatic profile was more varied; capsicum, plums, black and red fruits, sweet spices, and cedar which moved more to black fruits after decanting. Now, the nose has darker aromas from the outset. Nutmeg and sweet spices plus oak accent the fruit flavours. After decanting, the profile settles confidently into plum and dark fruit. The capsicum and cedar that were noticeable six months ago are no longer front and centre.
Six months ago, the palate was described as silky and smooth, featuring red and black fruits, cinnamon, vanilla, candied cherries, and pepper. With air, juicy berry and even floral notes emerged. The tannins were medium drying, giving a supportive but not overly firm structure. Today, the wine feels thicker, rounder, and more velvety in texture. The body is medium-plus. Ripe black fruits and black cherries dominate, with hints of candied cherries, vanilla, and oak. The brighter red fruit and floral lift noted previously are less evident.
Previously, the finish emphasized ripe red fruits, sweet cherries, cinnamon, pepper, and oak, supported by medium drying tannins. Now, the finish remains medium-plus to long, but the emphasis has shifted toward juicy black fruits, sweet spices, and oak. The tannins are more drying than before.
Over six months, Garland 2022 has deepened in profile. The earlier tasting showed a broader aromatic spectrum with capsicum, cedar, cocoa, floral tones, and brighter red fruits. Today, those elements have receded, replaced by a more ripe black fruits, plums, nutmeg, and sweet spice. Texturally, the wine has grown rounder and more velvety.
Hester Creek Estate Winery The Judge 2022
Six months ago the wine showed a deep garnet colour. Today, it appears deep garnet with a slightly duller tone. That subtle softening in vibrancy can be an early sign of bottle development, though the wine still holds its depth and concentration.
Upon the first tasting, the nose was expressive and layered: red and black fruits, plums, toast, vanilla, sweet spices, cherries, oak, plus hints of capsicum and cocoa on the palate. Now, the nose feels a touch more focused and slightly quieter at medium-minus intensity. The fruit profile leans more toward ripe black fruits and black plums, with sweet spices, oak, black pepper, and red cherries. The toast and vanilla notes that were previously distinct are now more subdued. The capsicum and cocoa nuances have largely receded.
Six months ago, the palate showed medium body, smooth mouthfeel, medium acidity, and chalky tannins. There was a lively interplay between juicy berries, plums, cherries, sweet spice, pepper, and a touch of tarter fruit after decanting. Today, the texture feels softer and more velvety. The tannins, once described as chalky, now come across as smoother and more integrated, only lightly drying on the finish. The fruit flavours emphasize juicy black fruits and cherries, with light oak.
Previously, the finish was medium-plus to long, with ripe fruit, lingering cherry, candied cherry notes, light pepper, and slightly tarter after decanting. Today, the finish remains medium-plus, still anchored by sweet black and red fruits, plums, and pepperiness. The candied cherry character remains, but the tarter fruits have softened. The tannins frame the finish more gently.
Over the past six months, The Judge 2022 has become more integrated and polished. The oak components are less pronounced. The tannins have transitioned from chalky to velvety. The brighter, tarter fruit elements have mellowed, giving the wine a rounder, more unified profile.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
Both wines are available for purchase online from the Hester Creek Estate Winery website:
Both wines are available at BC Liquor stores, select Save on Foods and Everything Wine stores.
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