I’ve been drinking the Hester Creek Character White for five years and the current 2022 vintage is my favourite thus far. It’s a succulent blending of two-thirds Pinot Gris and one-third Gewürztraminer, which results in an appealing core of pear and peach and honeydew melon, with the Gewürz adding an exotic lift with notes of pineapple and other tropical flavours. A bit off-dry and medium-bodied, this versatile, food-friendly, and seriously gulpable wine is, at $22, one of the Okanagan’s best-value whites.
Founded in 1844, Penfolds is one of Australia’s oldest wineries and probably its most famous. Even their entry-level wines are notable, such as the 2019 Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet ($23). Full-bodied, bold, and oozing with flavour, the Koonunga combines the jammy zing of Shiraz and the structure of Cabernet. Aside from dark fruits such as plum, cassis, and blackberry, the palate also offers hints of oak, spice, and chocolate. Dryer than a lot of big Aussie reds, this is a sophisticated and satisfying wine.
If you are having trouble finding an exciting Malbec at a bargain price, look no further than the Doña Paula “Los Cardos” (The Thistles) from Argentina – it’s a lot of wine for $15. Charming but also a bit bold, Los Cardos offers notably spicy, dark-fruit aromas that are followed on the palate by flavours of blackberry, black cherry, plum, olive … and a beguiling note of violets. Soft and silky, this is an easy-drinking wine that is perfect for pizza night.
California’s richly flavoured Three Thieves Chardonnay has, thanks to a partial malolactic fermentation, just enough of that buttery-oaky character to give this wine a creamy mouthfeel. The wine is fairly full-bodied, with flavours of melon, fig and peach being nicely complemented by tropical and citrus hints. Aromatic, fruitily refreshing, and offering a long finish, here’s a Chardonnay that will be great to serve with salmon, chicken, or pork. Good value for $21, let’s call it a smartly made crowd-pleaser. (All prices include tax.)