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17/20
Hester Creek The Judge 2022
Golden Mile Bench, Oliver, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaWith the addition of new vineyards, the 2022 harvest yielded a larger crop than average that got off to a late start. A warm summer and a long, pleasant fall remedied most problems in the vineyard. The winery describes the 2022 vintage as a milestone year for producing exceptional, fruit forward and age worthy wines. The Judge is made from old vines dating back to 1968, the final ’24 freeze outcome notwithstanding, and in 2022, it is really shining. Winemaker Mark Hopley has been refining the blend, the oak regime, and generally freshening up the wine, but perhaps its best attribute is its silky texture. The grapes are meticulously sorted, cold soaked and fermented in separate lots in specialized Italian tanks designed to extract the ideal level of flavour gently. The latest blend is 47% merlot, 34% cabernet franc, 17% cabernet sauvignon, 1% petit verdot, and 1% malbec, aged 24 months in French oak. A merlot, cabernet franc blend is the recipe for success in the South Okanagan, and with even less cabernet sauvignon this year, it is even better. Fresher, tighter, with refined black fruit, cocoa, savoury dried spices, and cedar all together to create a symphony that is polished to a tee. The Judge continues to up its game among the elite reds in BC.Tasted: 04 July 2025Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:| BC | $49.99 | 750ml | winery online/direct, select private retailers, Terrafiina |
| BC | $95.99 | 1500ml | winery direct |
Blend: Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet FrancCSPC: 133124UPC: 626990112235
