Our Wine

Hand-picked vines. Hand-crafted wines.

Nota Bene

Nota Bene is Latin for “Take Note” and this Bordeaux-style blend has become exceptionally popular since its first vintage in 1999. This is an estate, single vineyard blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes grown in our Black Sage Road vineyard. Every drop of Nota Bene ever produced has come from our vineyard and always will come only from our vineyard. Thus we have reached our production peak of 4,300 cases that we will ever be able to produce of Nota Bene.

The 2007 Nota Bene is a blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot and 19% Cabernet Franc at 14.7% alcohol. Release date to our Wine Club is on April 18, 2009. Release date to the Public is on May 4, 2009.

Alibi

Alibi is our fun, whimsical summer wine that was inspired by the great Sauvignon/Semillion blends of the Loire Valley in France. This is an exceptional wine for food pairing, particularly with seafood. Our first vintage of Alibi was produced in 2003 and it has generated a loyal following ever since.

The 2008 Alibi will be approximately 81% Sauvignon Blanc and 19% Semillon. Release date to the Wine Club is on June 5, 2009. Release date to the Public is on June 6, 2009.

Carmenere

Carmenere is our smallest single-vineyard production wine, with only 140 cases of it becoming available each year. The vines were originally planted with the anticipation that the Carmenere would become part of the Bordeaux style Nota Bene blend. However when the first vintage came out in 2005 the flavour profiles were so astounding, that we decided to keep this as a single varietal. This is a very special bottle of wine with great promise at 14.5% alcohol.

Release date to the Wine Club is on June 5, 2009. Release date to the Public is on June 6, 2009.

Chardonnay

The Black Hills Estate Winery Chardonnay is grown on a 2 acre parcel of our 27 acre vineyard. From our first vintage in 2006, our Chardonnay has shown refreshing fruit-forward tasting profiles. A great food pairing wine! With only 500 cases of Chardonnay in production, this is another quick seller for Black Hills.

Release date to the Wine Club is on September 25, 2009. Release date to the Public is on September 26, 2009.

Reviews

> Wine of the Week - Sequentia "Love the orange, baked apple pear nose with grassy, honey notes and the light apricot, butter, lees, honey, canned pineapple, floral flavours. A solid, fresh, clean late harvest style. Bravo."

Anthony Gismondi, gismondionwine.com December 30 2006

> The Most Stylish Sauvignon Blanc in the Valley "Black Hills scored big again, with both barrels: Nota Bene '02 -- huge fruit, ripe and upfront, one of the best British Columbia reds again (start clamouring for the '04). If you're lucky enough to have some under the stairs, it will happily keep there for another five, six, seven years. The '03 Alibi is surely the most stylish Sauvignon Blanc in the valley, that soupçon of Semillon just adds a final, crystalline "ping". 'One of the great white wines to be made in Canada...' was my assessment then, and it stands."

 Jurgen Gothe, Georgia Straight January 5 2006

> Nice People Who Know Their Stuff "You'll have an excellent experience in the quonset hut-like tasting room -- nice people who pour in Riedel crystal and know their stuff. Best known for their blockbuster red Nota Bene."

 City Palate Edmonton

> Will Grow to 90+ "When this extraordinarily focussed winery opened a few years ago, it had only two wines: a red called Nota Bene and a dessert wine called Sequentia. The Nota Bene is made from three Bordeaux red grape varieties, blended together into a superb red. The 2002 Nota Bene, which disappeared from wine stores soon after it was released last month, is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Franc. Of the four vintages of Nota Bene so far, this arguably is the best: a big, ripe, plummy wine with aromas of fruit, spice and good oak. While it is drinking well already, it really should be cellared for a few years to develop its full potential. I rate it 88 points now and I believe it will grow to 90+ with a little more age."

 John Schreiner, planetvancouver.com

> One of the Best This Year from Anywhere in the World "We hear that winemaker Senka Tennant spent some time hanging out with famed Loire Valley winemaker Didier Dagueneau, alternately known as the wild man of Pouilly and the best producer in the appellation. Clearly she is an excellent student because Alibi 2003 is among the best ever three white wines we have tasted in British Columbia and one of the best we have had this year from anywhere in the world. The 85/15 blend of sauvignon blanc and semillon blend jumps out of the glass offering super clean, grassy, citrus, honey, vanilla, green apple fruit aromas with an underlying mineral and clover quality. It's ripe, round and rich with good acidity and elegance. Fresh green apple, honey, flinty, chalky, grapefruit flavours with a touch of fig and vanilla finish slightly austere. A super effort for this winery and a great seafood wine. Drink now or should improve over the next 1-2 years.

Anthony Gismondi, gismondionwine.com

> Outstanding! "The Southern Okanagan Valley's Black Sage Bench may well prove itself to be one of the finest areas around for growing Bordeaux-style grapes. With more sunshine and heat than Napa or Sonoma, getting ripe fruit is rarely a problem. This red blend [2001 Nota Bene] is a perfect example. Dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, it opens with aromas of freshly ground espresso beans and flavors of lush black cherries and dark berries. The tannins are aggressive without being chalky, and the finish is pure dark chocolate."

 Wine Press Northwest Fall 2003

> A Standout "This is a 52 / 25 / 23 blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot. The nose is a mix of leafy, compost and pepper aromas. On the palate, the wine is well-managed and quite expansive. The flavours are peppery with blackberry, plums and mocha / toffee / oak. Be sure to decant for 45 minutes before serving."

 Anthony Gismondi, Vancouver Sun

> Good Aging Potential "A rich, full Bordeaux blend that packs in black plum, black cherry, leather, cocoa, and raisin flavors, ending on notes of rosemary and prune. Young tannins and firm structure offer good aging potential. Hold for 2-4 years, or serve now with barbecued rib eye steak."

 Northwest Palate

> Recommended “This delicious dessert wine from a Black Sage winery is loaded with spicy orange zest, honey aromas and fresh apricot flavours. Good acidity keeps up with the 12 percent residual sugar.”

 Wine Press Northwest Fall 2001

> Recommended “This new winery on the southern Okanagan Valley's Black Sage Bench has released this classic Bordeaux-style blend that comprises 66% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc. Toasty oak and leather aromas meld into spicy cherry aromas. This wine, made with the aid of Walla Walla's Rusty Figgins, is delicious and approachable in its youth."

Wine Press Northwest Fall 2001

> Wine of the Week “If you drive along Black Sage Road you'll eventually come across one of the South Okanagan's newest and more interesting ventures. Black Hills first offering was a runaway hit at the recent Victoria Festival of Wine and Music. With a leathery and berry aroma followed by a velvety palate of lush black cherry flavours, loads of vanilla, some spice and gentle tannins -- and a easy softness from the majority Merlot."

 Tim Pawsey, Vancouver Courier May 2 2001

> Note Bene Means Pay Attention! Listen Up! “Take notice, here's something out of the ordinary. Not a bad name for a wine, especially if it's a noteworthy one, so that's what the new Black Hills Estate Winery first release is called. First off, there is this huge aroma -- pungent, full of bionic cherry aromas, a little bite of eucalyptus, some classic, almost medicinal notes some ripe black olives and all sorts of other intriguing flavour components -- this is a wine that shows immense promise of pleasure ahead; my advice would be to buy a case."

 Jurgen Gothe, 600 AM June 15 2001

> A Noteworthy and Collectible Wine “For collectors of British Columbia wines, the latest must-have wine is the 1999 Nota Bene from Black Hills Estate Winery, a producer near Oliver which has just opened. This has all the marks of becoming a cult red wine capable of appreciating in value."

John Schreiner, newsgurus.com, 600 AM May 9 2001

> Solid Structure “Dark red colour. Aromas of tar, leather, and lavender. The palatte shows darkly nuanced earthy notes of truffle, leather, raisins, and cocoa in a dry, lean frame. Solid structure reveals underlying complexity over time. Cellar 2-5 years; or open in advance and try with a rib-eye steak in balsamico jus."

Northwest Palate November 2001

> Recommended "Roberto Beninni would be proud of this Nota Bene. A big, smokey Canadian posing as an Italian has lots of leather and tobacco notes that point toward a big, bold offering. On the palate, the leather chaps make a splash with a dash of black pepper. Although the tannins are a bit firm, this one has the heft to challenge time. Life is indeed beautiful."

Walter Sendzik “Vines -- Buyer’s Guide to Canadian Wine”