Black Hills Estate Winery 2016 Cellar Hand Red - 89pts

Black Hills Estate Winery 2016 Cellar Hand Red (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Widely available at BCLDB stores and direct from the winery here
Cost: $24.90 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.2%
Date Tasted: June 13th, 2018
@blackhillswine

Tasting Notes: Sure to be a crowd pleaser at your next dinner party, this blend of 67% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Carmenere and 6% Syrah is a social-friendly wine with ripe, red and dark berry notes on the engaging nose and the slightly off-dry palate and warmed by nicely integrated layers of spice, alcohol and soft, silky tannins.

A drink-now vintage of the Baby Bene. Drink now-2020.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

Black Hills Estate Winery 2015 Cellar Hand Punch Down Red - 90pts

Black Hills Estate Winery 2015 Cellar Hand Red (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Widely available at BCLDB stores and direct from the winery here
Cost: $24.90 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.1%
Date Tasted: June 15th, 2017

Tasting Notes: This is the best vintage of Black Hills' Cellar Hand Red to date. The 2015 edition is a traditional, Meritage-style blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc (percentages withheld) which benefited from a long and dry growing season, producing excellent ripeness and intensely flavourful fruit. 

This intensity is on display throughout the Cellar Hand Red: dark fruit, violets, toasted oak, licorice, vanilla, coffee grinds and a hint of eucalyptus grace the generous nose and the lip-smacking, fine-tannin palate where spice and blood orange notes linger on the memorable finish. Ready to go now, though, this over-achiever should hold beautifully for a few years while you wait for your Nota Bene to mature. Drink now-2020.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2017 IconWines.ca

Black Hills Estate Winery 2014 Cellar Hand Red - 88pts

Black Hills Estate Winery 2014 Cellar Hand Red (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Widely available at BCLDB stores and direct from the winery here
Cost: $21.65 + taxes
Alcohol: 14.2%
Date Tasted: May 20th, 2016

Tasting Notes: Black Hills' 2nd label red wine is a fruit forward, crowd-pleasing blend of 48% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Syrah. Deep, dark fruit, oak spice and a hint of eucalyptus grace the generous nose followed by a rounded palate with similar flavours, smooth tannins and  mouth-watering, fresh berry acidity. Finish is moderate with some lingering white pepper notes. A wine to be enjoyed in its youth while you wait for your Nota Bene to mature. Drink now-2018.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2016 IconWines.ca

Cellar Hand 2013 Punch Down Red - 88pts

Cellar Hand 2013 Punch Down Red (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Widely available at BCLDB stores and private wine shops
Cost: $24.90 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 13.3%
Date Tasted: October 13th, 2015

Tasting Notes: A pleasant, fruit-driven blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Cabernet Franc that acts like a 2nd wine to the winery's flagship blend, the Black Hills' Nota Bene. The nose offers some decent complexity with standard dark fruit aromas augmented with dusty spice, pot-pourri and dry herb notes. The palate is easy-going with smooth, medium tannins and body, ripe berry and spicy plum fruit flavours and a nice wave of cooking spices and wild berry acidity. Spice, oak and herbs linger on the moderate finish.

 A wine to be enjoyed in its youth while you wait for your Nota Bene to mature. Drink now-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Cellar Hand 2014 Free Run White - 89pts

Cellar Hand 2014 Free Run White (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Widely available at BCLDB stores and private wine shops
Cost: $15.90 (including taxes)
Alcohol: 12.2%
Date Tasted: October 8th, 2015

Tasting Notes: From Black Hills Estate Winery's 2nd lable, Cellar Hand, the 'Free Run White' is a delicious, off-dry, over-achieving blend of 47% Pinot Blanc, 27% Muscat, 19% Viognier and 7% Sauvignon Blanc. The nose offers ripe, delicate aromas of tropical and orchard fruit, most notably: pineapple, mango, apricot and nectarine. The medium-bodied palate follows with similar fruit flavours and added citrus notes and acidity. 

Enjoy this wine in its youth, on its own or as a flexible companion to mystery pot-luck dinners. Drink now-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Cellar Hand 2012 Free Run White - 87pts

Cellar Hand 2012 Free Run White (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Widely available at BCLDB stores and private wine shops
Cost: $16
Alcohol: 13.2%
Date Tasted: October 22nd, 2013

Tasting Notes: Fun, accessible and balanced. This blend of Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay (59%-27%, respectively) with a splattering of Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, Muscat and Pinot Gris mixed in, delivers a smooth and decently complex nose of orchard and tropical fruit aromas followed by a similarly flavoured, fruit-forward palate with green apple acidity keeping the texture vibrant and the finish crisp.

The Free Run White offers amazing value for the price, with a food-friendly profile making it a sure thing for any dinner party due to its food-pairing diversity and supreme drinkability. Enjoy this wine in its youth. Drink now-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Cellar Hand 2011 Punch Down Red - 88pts

Cellar Hand 2011 Punch Down Red (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Widely available at BCLDB stores and private wine shops
Cost: $20
Alcohol: 14.2%
Date Tasted: October 5th, 2013

Tasting Notes: 'Cellar Hand' is the second label of Black Hills Estate Winery and aims to create drink-now wines, appropriate for passing the time while you wait for your coveted caché of Nota Bene to mature. This blend of 45% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Syrah and 11% Cabernet Franc offers sweet aromas of ripe cherry, spicy plum and mixed-berry fruit with Christmas sugar cookie and light oak notes rounding out the pleasant nose.

The palate is easy-going with smooth, light tannins, ripe berry and plum fruit flavours and a kick of both cooking spice and field berry acidity on the moderate finish. A wine to be enjoyed with friends with or without dinner. Drink now-2015.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca