With the last barrels of our Hiatus Collection now bottled, we find ourselves looking back on what has become a multi-year journey since the freeze that hit our region back in 2024. It’s been a process that challenged us, humbled us, and ultimately made us stronger. At this moment, there’s a sense of catharsis, a natural pause for reflection.
This project brought growth, though not the kind we’re accustomed to. Not the patient, methodical growth we tend to in the vineyard, but something less predictable – growth through exploration, through problem-solving, and through community.
In many ways, it became as much about logistics as it was about craftsmanship. Our team expanded, if only briefly, and with it our capacity to coordinate, adapt, and respond. The Hiatus Collection wines we’re now preparing to share are about more than just us. They are a snapshot of a time and place far beyond our small corner of the Black Sage Bench. We set out not to replicate, but to emulate, to explore terroirs that inspired us, that made us long for the drives south of the border.
The 2024 Nota Bene steps outside the familiar, into something altogether its own, unlike what has come before, and unlikely to be repeated. It asks for a moment of openness, and perhaps a bit of trust. Because the truth is, the 2024 vintage was not born of our estate vineyards on the Black Sage Bench, the ground that has defined us for the past 25 vintages.
There is a sense that these wines occupy a fleeting moment. Sitting squarely in an intersection of circumstance, intent, and place that is unlikely to come again in quite the same way. Its rarity is not by design, but by the nature of the path that led to it. And yet, it was never crafted to be that. From the outset, it was shaped with patience and longevity in mind; structure is woven as a foundation with balance, tension, and restraint. It carries with it the intent to evolve, to deepen, to reveal more with time. What makes these wines special is not only how little of it there is, but how much it promises to become. It invites both immediacy and patience. It’s both a compelling presence now and a story that will continue to unfold in the years ahead.
So why call it Nota Bene?
For us, the answer is simple. The reason lives in what those two words have always meant to us. Not a place, but a promise. A commitment to pursue the very best expression of a vintage, wherever that pursuit may lead. It is the thread that runs through every decision, every pass through the cellar, every moment of doubt and conviction along the way.
That thread remains unbroken in 2024. The vineyards may be unfamiliar, but the intent is not. The care is not. The quiet, deliberate craftsmanship is not. What lies beyond the vineyards is unmistakably ours. What fills the glass is still a reflection of who we are and only now, it carries with it the imprint of elsewhere, shaped by distance, curiosity, and the pull to explore beyond our own horizon.
Typically, this wine comes together through careful barrel selection. An intuitive process of tasting, trial, and comparison until the blend naturally reveals itself. This year, however, it asked something different of us. Without the familiar anchor of our estate fruit, the challenge shifted from selection alone to definition itself: not just which barrels best fit the wine, but what identity we wanted the wine to carry forward. It became less about assembling a known expression, and more about shaping a voice we were still discovering as we went. In the end, we believe we arrived at something truly unique – a singular expression of the Walla Walla Valley, interpreted through the perspective of the Okanagan, and shaped by the dialogue between place, craft, and intent.
Along the way, we found ourselves building new relationships with growers and winemakers. Connections that formed quickly, out of necessity, trust, and a shared pursuit of something meaningful. They were, by nature, ephemeral, shaped by the rhythm of this singular project. As it comes to a close, we’re left with a deep gratitude for those who lent their hands and their trust to the process. Their contributions have left a lasting impression well beyond the life of the work itself.
This project has taught us a great deal. It has expanded our perspective, tested our approach, and deepened our understanding of what is possible when intention is carried across unfamiliar ground. Now, our focus naturally returns home to the Black Sage Bench and to the vineyards that have long defined our voice.
And so, as we close this chapter, we offer our sincere thanks to the growers, winemakers, collaborators, and partners who made this work possible, and to the wine lovers who have followed along, supported us, and embraced the journey with curiosity and generosity. Your enthusiasm gives meaning to the work, and your belief in what comes next is what carries us forward. We are grateful for your company on this path, and excited for the next chapter in our industry, wherever it may lead.
For me, so much of what I work with today was built long before I arrived. There is a deep foundation here, shaped by years of care, patience, and conviction, and I carry a real respect for that history. At the same time, our estate vineyards are on a new path; one that continues to evolve as we look ahead, while staying grounded in what has come before.
Ryan McKibbon
Head Winemaker of Black Hills Estate Winery