Tag: Petit Verdot

92 point wine review: Hester Creek Cabernet Franc Rosé, Okanagan Valley, BC

The 2025 Rosé, made from 100% Cabernet Franc, is beautifully expressive, bursting from the glass with ripe raspberry, wild strawberry and fresh rhubarb, alongside an especially enticing raspberry-scone character and hints of strawberry-rhubarb pie. There is lovely purity and generosity to the fruit on the nose. The palate is creamy with more body and texture than many Provençal-inspired rosés, yet it remains wonderfully refreshing. Raspberry and strawberry carry through alongside tart rhubarb, pomegranate and a subtle hint of spice. The wine has a lovely sense of roundness and generosity through the mid-palate, balanced by enough freshness to keep everything lively and composed. That extra dimension of body makes this an exceptionally versatile rosé at the table. Try it with wood-fired pizza, grilled pork with cherry compote, an artisanal charcuterie platter with fruit preserves, or fennel salami and creamy blue cheese. A fantastic option to enjoy alongside Thanksgiving dinners, where its combination of red fruit, freshness and texture will play beautifully with turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce. A polished, expressive and highly versatile rosé from an estate that continues to offer not only excellent wines, but one of the Okanagan Valley’s most complete wine-country experiences. Look for it at LCBO in September or winery-direct throughout the year. Tasted September 2026. 92 points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca

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Hester Creek Character Red 2023, Golden Mile Bench, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada – available at LCBO in August!

In an era where value matters more than ever, discovering a wine that over-delivers is a gift to the table, and Character Red 2023 is exactly that. This thoughtfully assembled blend of Petit Verdot, Malbec, Syrah, and Italian-clone Merlot captures the warmth and energy of the 2023 vintage, one of the most sun-drenched in Okanagan history, with poise and purpose. Deep ruby in the glass, it opens with an evocative bouquet of dark plum, blackberry compote, desert sage, and a graphite minerality that echoes the stony soils of the Golden Mile Bench. On the palate, it punches well above its weight—bold yet balanced, with ripe fruit, gentle spice, and fine tannins carrying the flavour through to a clean, satisfying finish. Versatile, food-friendly, and full of heart, this gem is both an introduction to the serious potential of this sub-region and a reminder that great wine doesn’t always need to come at great cost. Whether poured beside a sizzling summer BBQ, a cozy winter stew, or a rustic spread of charcuterie, Character Red more than lives up to its name. One of the finest value reds on offer from the Golden Mile Bench. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Tasted July 2025. 90+ points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca

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96 point wine review: Hester Creek Garland 2022, Golden Mile Bench, Okanagan Valley, BC

The 2022 vintage—one of the finest on record in the Okanagan—has yielded what may be Hester Creek’s most complete and compelling Garland to date. This meticulously crafted blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot, and 4% Malbec showcases the richness and refinement achievable on the sun-drenched slopes of the Golden Mile Bench. Picked between October 12 and November 9, the fruit from this stellar vintage is deeply expressive. The nose is inviting, layered, and refined, with dark fruit, black currant, tobacco leaf, graphite, and the signature Black Sagebrush and desert herbals that define southern Okanagan terroir. The palate is equally captivating—luscious and vibrant, with velvety tannins and a refreshingly polished mouthfeel that brings to mind the finesse of Bolgheri, the structure of Pomerol, and the power of Oakville. Yet for all those parallels, Garland 2022 is distinctly South Okanagan. Harmonious, concentrated, and beautifully framed, it’s a masterclass in balance and a showcase of the region’s potential. A brilliant wine from winemaker Mark Hopley and his team—elegant now and destined to evolve gracefully over the next 10+ years. Tasted July 2025. 96 points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca Look for it at Hester Creek, Bench Club, and throughout BC where fine wines are sold - $65+

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