Hester Creek Estate Winery Columbia Valley Collection Cabernet Franc Rosé 2024

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

By now, you have probably heard that 2024 was a devastating year for British Columbia grape growers (and fruit growers in general), and the nearly non-existent 2024 B.C. grape harvest. Between January 11 to 15 2024, temperatures dipped as low as -30 in some vineyards, severely damaging buds and grapevines with some vines totally succumbing to the killer freeze up. To carry on business and keep winery doors open, many B.C. wineries had to source their grapes from elsewhere. To make up their 2024 vintage, Hester Creek Estate Winery did source some of their grapes from the Columbia Valley, Washington and have created a fifth tier of wines called the Columbia Valley Collection (CVC).

I have always loved HC’s Cabernet Franc Rosé, and the 2024 vintage does not disappoint at all! Produced from 100% Cabernet Franc sourced from the Columba Valley AVA, Mark Hopley has not only retained that brilliant cranberry pink colour in the glass on this rosé, but it is also the same spicy, fragrant, juicy and zesty signature rosé for which he and Hester Creek Estate Winery are known.

Fresh and fragrant with cranberry vodka, raspberry sorbet, blood orange citrus, pink grapefruit zest, subtle dried fine herbs and minerally notes, on the palate it is dry, medium-bodied harmoniously balanced with juicy medium-plus acidity, well-defined fruit and structured with finely textured tannins with a juicy, subtle pepper spice finish verging long on the palate. Beautifully crafted and easy to love chilled on its own or with a charcuterie platter and a variety of hard cheeses. Tasted March 2025.