BLACK HILLS NEWSLETTER | SPRING 2004

Welcome

Welcome from the crew at Black Hills. We are extremely excited to offer two wines this spring, both from excellent growing seasons.

Nota Bene 2002

52% Cabernet Sauvignon
30% Merlot
18% Cabernet Franc

Starts slow and unfurls into pronounced cassis-liqueur, black cherry and cigar-boxed aromas followed by spicy plum. Full bodied with silky tannins and long finish.

Our 2001 vintage Nota Bene was extremely well received and sold out by the end of the summer last year. This new release Nota Bene 2002 is drinking beautifully and promises to exceed past vintages in both finesse and complexity. The 2002 growing season was exceptional!

Release Date: Late April

Alibi 2003

85% Sauvignon Blanc
15% Semillon (barrel fermented)

Fresh and tangy with pretty honeyed pineapple and peach notes followed by a long kiwi lemon-zesty finish.

We have been growing sauvignon blanc since 1997 and have always been sick about selling the top quality aromatic fruit our site produces. Sauvignon Blanc seems particularly well suited to our terroir. We had always planned to make a dry white wine and last year we constructed a facility for this purpose, and we are able to produce 450 cases. The 2003 Sauvignon Blanc / Semillon blend we have named Alibi. Harvest of these grapes was extremely involved. We made four separate cull passes through the block, dropping clusters that did not meet the flavor profiles we were seeking. The resulting wine, we are certain you will agree, reflects the unique flavor profiles we strive to provide at Black Hills.

Release Date: Mid June

Sequentia

Unfortunately, we did not have the sauvignon blanc volume this year to produce our Sequentia, but we do hope to produce it next year.

Event: BC Cheese & Black Hills Wines

Date: May 1, 2004
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 pm
Location: Black Hills Estate Winery

Once again this year at the winery we are having an event to mark the release of our new Nota Bene vintage. The Larry Crawford Trio, six BC artisan cheese makers and 2002 Nota Bene! In the past this has been an Okanagan Spring Festival highlight. Please call the winery at 250.498.0666 for tickets -- $15.00 per person in advance.

Wine Orders

We are now taking orders for our new releases. For your convenience we have developed an order form on our Web site at www.blackhillswinery.com.

If you do plan to order our wines please endeavor to do so in the spring to ensure availability. This year we will not be shipping during the extreme temperatures of the summer months.

Winery Hours

We are open at the winery from May 1 through May 31, weekends from 12:00 to 5:00 pm. June 1 through October 1 we are open daily from 12:00 to 5:00 pm or by appointment. If you are in our area, please drop by for a visit.

Thank You

We thank you for your e-mails and support in the past. We are confident you will be impressed by this spring's wine releases!

About This Newsletter

The Black Hills Newsletter is published electronically several times per year. If you or a friend would like to subscribe, please see the Contact Us page of our Web site at www.blackhillswinery.com.