Hester Creek Estate Winery Golden Mile Bench Old Vine Cabernet Franc 2021

Deborah Podurgiel WSET IV Candidate rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Hester Creek Estate Winery’s Old Vines Cabernet Franc 2021 was produced from low yields of hand-harvested Cab Franc grapes from vines over a half-century old sourced from Block 3 of the winery’s historic Golden Mile Bench vineyard. In addition, grape clusters were destemmed and the whole berries were cold soaked for three days to intensify these flavours. Beautifully crafted, the wine is rich on the nose and fruit-driven on the palate, and I agree with the winemaker’s notes that “the 2021 Cabernet Franc harvest is of outstanding quality with excellent depth of flavour.”

Currently, the wine is showing oodles of ripe raspberry, red currant, cherry, bramble leaf, pink roses, dried herbs, dried sweet tobacco and cracked pepper flavours, dry, medium-plus-bodied, savoury and generous on the palate with a lengthy, velvety finish on a nutty and warm vanilla note. The wine was aged for 18 months in French and American oak barrels and will easily drink through 2028. Thoroughly enjoyed in September 2024 and perfectly matched with a grouse breast schnitzel accompanied with a dollop of red currant jelly.

Jennifer Havers rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Aromas of red cherry, bright raspberry, and red currant, along with notes of sweet tobacco, dried herbs, and hints of black pepper. Medium-full bodied with some dry tannins, bright acidity, and vibrant fruit on the palate. Hints of tobacco and dried herbs on the finish. Enjoy with a pork roast accompanied with root vegetables.