Wine review: Hester Creek “The Judge” 2021, Golden Mile Bench, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

Ottawa, ON

July 2025

Matt’s review: Hester Creek’s “The Judge” 2021 is a classic right bank Bordeaux blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and a co-fermentation of Petit Verdot and Malbec, from Hester Creek’s estate vineyards along the Golden Mile Bench in the south of the Okanagan Valley. 2021 was the warmest vintage in the past decade, particularly due to the Heat Dome which saw record-breaking highs persist in the peak of the summer. The result of this hot and dry season was small berries with great concentration producing expressive, concentrated and highly textured wines. The Judge 2021 is a deep ruby colour with slight garnet hue, the nose shows dark plum, black berries, dark cherry, savoury desert herbs, cedar, earth, and graphite. The palate shows great intensity of flavour with refreshing plum, fine integrated dusty tannins, with savoury dark fruit, spice, and pepper persisting on the long textured finish. A serious wine that beautifully showcases the unique vintage characteristics from this esteemed Golden Mile Bench estate. Enjoy over the next decade with rosemary and garlic grilled lamb chops or Parmesan crusted steak skewers. Tasted July 2024 and July 2025. 94 points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca

Available winery-direct $50+ and look for it at LCBO in November 2025.