quicksearch
Anthony Gismondi on Wine
Hester Creek Garlandtext
91POINTS
16¾/20

Hester Creek Garland 2019

Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaGarland is the Hester Creek flagship red, named after the longtime owner Curt Garland. The inaugural 2015 vintage first appeared in 2018 to mark the 50th anniversary of planting vinifera vines on the property in 1968. Garland has been made every year since. In 2019, Growing Degree Days (GDD) were 1598, above the 20-year average of 1474. A severe widespread frost throughout the Okanagan Valley ended the season on the night of October 9. What was a problem for reds grown further north wasn't on the Golden Mile Bench. The 2019 mix is 74 percent cabernet sauvignon, with 14/6/5/1 petit verdot, cabernet franc, malbec, and merlot. Post ferment, it's aged for 24 months in tight-grain French oak barrels. Because it's cabernet sauvignon dominant, it pitches youthful blackberry with streaks of licorice, cinnamon, balsamic, and sweet pipe tobacco before surrendering to a rush of velvety tannins. The Garland is always tighter and more focused than The Judge and is suited to more extended ageing. This one will need a decade or more.Tasted: 15 October 2022Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:
BC$59.99750mlwinery online/direct, select private retailers
Producer: Hester Creek Estate WineryDistributors: Revelry Import Company
Blend: Cabernet Franc - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Petit Verdot - MalbecCSPC: 145362UPC: 626990222118