Red Rooster Sauvignon Blanc 2021 (Oliver)
Bright, pale straw in colour; fresh, grapefruit with a light floral note; medium-bodied, crisply dry, grapefruit and green plum flavours; lovely mouth-feel and a long, lingering lemony finish. Drink now. (90)
Red Rooster Viognier 2021 (Similkameen Valley)
Light straw colour; honeysuckle, peach bouquet; medium-bodied, dry, white peach flavour; beautifully balanced and pure; long finish. Drink now and through 2024. (90)
Red Rooster Pinot 3 2020 (Oliver & Penticton)
33% Pinot Noir, 33% Pinot Gris, 34% Pinot Blanc. Pale straw in colour; minerally, apple and starfruit nose; medium-bodied, dry, lovely mouth-feel; fresh and lively on the palate ending on a saline note. Drink now and through 2024. (89)
Red Rooster Pinot Noir 2020 (Oliver & Similkameen)
Medium ruby colour; lightly toasty, cherry and raspberry bouquet with oak spice; richly extracted red berry and red plum flavours with well-integrated oak. Ripe tannins evident, give the wine structure. Hold 1–2 years. (89)
Red Rooster Carbonic Merlot Malbec 2020 (Osoyoos)
Purple-ruby in colour; cedary, lightly floral, blackberry, vanilla nose with oak spice; medium to full-bodied, dry, dark chocolate and plum flavours with dusty tannins, firmly structured. Needs time. (89–91)
Red Rooster Meritage Rare Bird Series 2018 (Okanagan Valley)
38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec. Deep ruby-purple colour; rich cedary, spicy nose of blackcurrant and tobacco; medium-bodied, silky mouth-feel, dry, elegant, beautifully balanced and harmonious with ripe tannins. Drinking well now but will hold for 3–4 years.
Hester Creek Sémillon 2021 (Okanagan Valley, Golden Mile Bench, $21.99)
Very pale straw colour; lightly grassy, floral, white currant nose with a thread of minerality; medium-bodied, crisply dry, lemony, green plum flavours; elegant and lingering. (90)
Hester Creek Viognier 2021 (Okanagan Valley, $21.99)
Light straw colour with a greenish tint; lightly floral, peach pit nose; medium-bodied, well-extracted peach and citrus flavours; elegant and beautifully balanced. Lovely mouth-feel. (91)
Hester Creek The Judge 2019 (Okanagan Valley, $49.99)
41% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep ruby in colour; cedary, toasty, blackcurrant and plum bouquet with vanilla oak spice; medium to full-bodied, dry, well-extracted tobacco-tinged, blackberry and blackcurrant flavours; well-integrated oak, well-structured finishing on cocoa powder-like tannins. (92)
Hester Creek Old Vine Brut 2019 (Okanagan Valley, Golden Mile Bench, $34.99)
100% Pinot Blanc. Pale straw in colour with an active mousse of tiny bubbles. Yeasty nose of apple, almond, lemon and white blossoms. Light to medium-bodied, dry, crab apple and lemon flavours. Good length. (89)