Hester Creek Undici 2022 – A Taste of Italy in the South Okanagan

Some Okanagan wines try to imitate classic European styles.

Others actually make you stop and think you are drinking something from Europe.

Hester Creek Undici 2022 belongs firmly in the second category.

This is the new release from Hester Creek's premium Origin Wines collection, and it is a Super Tuscan-style blend built around Sangiovese.

The 2022 vintage is 61% Sangiovese, with 19% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Malbec.

The wine spent an impressive 24 months in 100% French oak before being bottled in June 2025.

And honestly, this is one of the Hester Creek wines that really caught my attention.

Why is it called Undici?

The name comes from the vineyard.

The grapes are sourced from Hester Creek's Osoyoos East Bench vineyard, which the winery calls Vineyard Eleven because of the exceptional quality of the fruit.

Undici is Italian for eleven.

It is a fitting name for a wine that is deliberately inspired by Italy.

Sangiovese is at the heart of the blend, but the addition of the Bordeaux varieties gives the wine extra structure, depth and texture.

It is not Chianti, of course, but there is something unmistakably Italian about the way the wine comes together.

A beautiful nose

The nose is the first thing that really impressed me.

It is elegant and expressive, with fresh cherry, dark cherry and earthy notes that immediately reminded me of a really good Chianti.

There are elegant spices in the background, together with vanilla from the long French oak ageing.

But the oak doesn't dominate.

Instead, it sits behind the fruit and adds another layer to the wine.

There is also something beautifully savoury about the aroma.

This is not a big, jammy Okanagan red. It has restraint.

It has freshness.

It has that earthy quality I associate with good Italian reds.

On the palate

The wine is medium-bodied, which I think is one of its greatest strengths.

It has enough concentration to feel serious, but it doesn't become heavy.

The acidity is bright and beautifully integrated, giving the wine energy and keeping the generous dark fruit fresh.

Fresh cherry is joined by darker cherry, earthy flavours and spices.

As the wine opens, I get more savoury notes, followed by chocolate and a touch of espresso towards the finish.

The oak is noticeable, but beautifully integrated.

After 24 months in French oak, I was expecting the wood to be more obvious.

Instead, it contributes vanilla, spice and texture without covering up the Sangiovese character.

The tannins are also very well handled.

There is structure, but nothing feels aggressive.

This is a wine about balance.

A long, savoury finish

The finish is long and savoury, with dark cherry, spice and a subtle espresso and chocolate character.

Then comes a little touch of sweet cherry at the end.

That combination of savoury and sweet fruit is one of my favourite things about the wine.

It keeps changing as you drink it, and I would absolutely recommend giving it time in the glass.

This is not a wine I would rush through.

In fact, I think the 2022 Undici is just getting started.

A wine for the cellar

Hester Creek describes the 2022 vintage as a milestone year, with a long growing season that allowed the red grapes to develop concentrated colour and flavour as well as phenolic ripeness.

The winery considers the vintage both fruit-forward and age-worthy.

I completely agree about the aging potential.

There is already a beautiful balance in the wine, but the combination of acidity, tannin, fruit concentration and 24 months of French oak gives it plenty of structure for further development.

I would happily drink it now, but I would also put a few bottles away.

Over the next several years, I expect the fruit to become more integrated, the earthy character to develop further and the oak to become even less noticeable.

Hester Creek itself suggests the wine can be enjoyed now or cellared for up to ten years.

My verdict

The Hester Creek Undici 2022 is one of those wines that makes me particularly excited about the direction of the South Okanagan.

It doesn't taste like a generic New World red.

The Sangiovese gives it freshness, savoury character and that lovely Italian feel, while Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec add structure and depth.

For me, the most impressive thing is the balance.

Elegant nose. Fresh cherry. Earth. Spice.

Dark fruit. A little espresso and chocolate.

Beautiful acidity. Long savoury finish.

And at 13.7% alcohol, it manages to feel generous without becoming heavy.

I scored the Hester Creek Undici 2022 at 95/100.

This is a wine I would happily serve with a classic Italian meal, especially osso buco, slow-cooked beef, wild mushroom dishes or a rich ragù.

Hester Creek itself recommends pairing it with braised osso buco.

But more importantly, this is a wine I would love to taste again in five years.

Undici 2022 has the structure, freshness and elegance to develop beautifully.

For me, this is one of the strongest examples yet of how well Sangiovese can work in the South Okanagan.

See also: okanagan wine guide

See also: The Villa at Hester Creek

See also: Places to Eat in Oliver

See also: Okanagan Valley

See also: Hester Creek Winery

See also: Hester Creek Winery