During a trip to Oliver, BC, deep in the southern Okanagan Valley, we visited Hester Creek Winery where we purchased this Merlot.

It has a clear, deep ruby-purple core moving to a thick light ruby rim with noticeably viscous legs.  On the nose, it’s clean with medium intense youthful aromas of smoke, plum, blueberry and significant greenness.

On the palate, the wine should be dry but tastes significantly sweet.  There’s an average acidity and tannin, but the alcohol is high and out of balance.  Flavours of ripe Italian prune plum, cedar and cigar smoke and more green moss and under ripe fruit pervade.

This is a WSET Acceptable wine.  In retrospect, the tasting went better than the bottle.  Save your money…