Black Hills Estate Winery 2016 Nota Bene - 91-92pts

Black Hills Estate Winery 2016 Nota Bene (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC 

Availability: Sold out at the winery, though, private wine shops have it in stock
Cost: $59.90 + taxes
Alcohol: 13.5%
Date Tasted: August 21st, 2018

Tasting Notes: The 2016 vintage of the iconic, single-vineyard Nota Bene sticks with the recent Cab Sauv leading recipe, though, this year the final blend is nearly an even partnership with Merlot with Cabernet Franc playing a supporting, aroma-lifting role (43.5% CS, 40% M and 14.5% CF). 

Ready earlier than recent releases, this beautiful, fruit-forward wine boasts layers of dark fruit, licorice, sage, incense, vanilla, mocha, mint, toasted oak and earthiness on the developing bouquet and the well-integrated, berry-sweetened, long-lasting palate.

Further development is coming, but you can dive into this complex wine this year and over the following decade. Drink 2019-2026+
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2018 IconWines.ca

Black Hills Estate Winery 2013 Nota Bene - 92+pts

Black Hills Estate Winery 2013 Nota Bene (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC 

Availability: Sold out at the winery, though, VQA and private wine shops have it in stock
Cost: $54-60
Alcohol: 13.7%
Date Tasted: September 26th, 2015

Tasting Notes: For Nota Bene connoisseurs, it's worth noting that the 2013 vintage sees the fabled red blend return to using Cabernet Sauvignon as the leading grape for its assemblage after a one year switch to Merlot in the driver's seat. The final blend is 49% Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc and the finished wine fits comfortably into the Nota Bene lexicon; it's big, it's intense and it's complex.

Layers of dark fruit, licorice, sage, tobacco, sweet vanilla, mocha, mint, toasted oak and general earthiness can be perceived on the developing bouquet. Similar flavours grace the (nearly) dry, full-bodied palate where the dark fruit characters take centre stage with compelling supporting roles from wild berry acidity and fine, dusty tannins. Oak treatment notes linger on the long finish with a medley of savoury spices.

A wine more for the future than the present, taking hours to open up today. With careful cellaring, presume to enjoy this beauty after a further 2-3 years in the bottle. Drink 2018-2023+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Black Hills Estate Winery 2012 Nota Bene - 91-92pts

Black Hills Estate Winery 2012 Nota Bene (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC 

Availability: Sold out at the winery, though, VQA and private wine shops have it in stock
Cost: $54-60
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: January 31st, 2015

Tasting Notes: Nota Bene has been a Cabernet Sauvignon-leading blend for the past 11 vintages, but, for 2012, the winery has switched back to a Merlot-driven Meritage blend, similar to the inaugural release of 1999. The latest edition sees a whopping 57% Merlot mixed with 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc and despite the changes, the 2012 offers good typicity for the iconic brand suggesting the vineyard site is the most dominant influence over the finished wine and not the finite percentages of the main components. 

Whether its Cab-Merlot or Merlot-Cab, you'll get your fix of dark fruit supported by a medley of savoury characters; wild sage, tobacco and dry herbs. There are also hints of licorice, mocha and plum adding complexity. Fine tannins and French oak flavouring help structure the palate where a kick of wild berry acidity keeps the finish mouth-watering. Spice lingers through to the next sip.

This is a wine more for the future than the present. It takes hours to open up today, though, with careful cellaring, in another 2 years this won't be a problem at all. Drink 2017-2022.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

Black Hills Estate Winery 2011 Nota Bene - 91pts

Black Hills Estate Winery 2011 Nota Bene (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC 

Availability: Sold out at the winery. Some VQA and private wine shops have it in stock
Cost: $54-60
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: October 26th, 2013

Tasting Notes: Even in cold, difficult vintages, the Black Hills team deliver a Nota Bene worthy of the on-going intrigue and exclusivity the brand has earned through years of sold-out wines and effective marketing. Some years are better than others, but, I've yet to be disappointed with the released wine.

The 2011 is no exception. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, all sourced from their famed Black Sage Bench estate vineyard which imparts an herbal quality to the wine augmenting the classic Meritage profile of black currant, blackberry, fresh tobacco leaf and dark plum aromas and flavours. Along with the potent fruit and fine tannins, the 2011 boasts a smoky texture, layers of savoury flavours and the right amount of acid to keep the medium-plus bodied palate vibrant.

As with all Nota Bene releases, lay a few down in your cellar for further development, though the 2011 may not evolve as much the past few vintages. Drink 2014-2018+.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2013 IconWines.ca

Black Hills Estate Winery 2010 Nota Bene - 91-92pts

Black Hills Estate Winery 2010 Nota Bene (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Sold out at the winery. Some VQA and private wine shops have it in stock
Cost: $54-60
Alcohol: 14%
Date Tasted: September 21st, 2012

Tasting Notes: A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc, all sourced from the winery's home vineyard on Black Sage road, the 2010 Nota Bene embraces the cool weather of the vintage offering more herbal characters than in previous years which add a nice expression of time and place to the traditional profile of youthful and brooding dark berry fruit.

The highest ever percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend has yielded a deep and seductive nose of black currant, blackberries, clove, fresh tobacco leaf and ripe, spicy plums. The full-bodied palate that follows may not be as dense as the 2009 vintage, but the depth is impressive and the balanced finish goes on and on with lovely, lingering flavours of mocha and dark fruit puree. Will develop further over the next 3-4 years. Drink 2013-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca

Also see:
10 Years of Nota Bene

Black Hills Estate Winery 2009 Nota Bene - 92+pts

Black Hills Estate Winery 2009 Nota Bene (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Sold out at the winery. Some VQA and private wine shops have it in stock
Cost: $53-60
Alcohol: 14.1%
Production: 3300 cases
Date Tasted: October 21st, 2011

Tasting Notes: The estate vineyard that produces the Nota Bene seems to have soaked up every heat unit and ray of sunshine the sun served up during the hot Indian Summer of 2009. The fruit characters on the gorgeous nose and juicy, sublime palate are the ripest since the 2003 vintage - the year of the devastating forest fires that hit Kelowna. Higher extraction and more modern vinification techniques have upped the concentration and increased the potential cellar life for this highly collected blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 16% Cabernet Franc.

Originally tasted as a barrel sample in October 2010 (as part of a 10 year vertical tasting) this true BC icon has evolved nicely over the past year in bottle and still has a ways to go yet before being completely user friendly. Look to open yours in mid-2012 to avoid a balance skewed towards the bold yet smooth tannins. Drink mid-2012-2017.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2011 IconWines.ca

Black Hills Estate Winery 2008 Nota Bene - 91pts

Black Hills Estate Winery 2008 Nota Bene (Black Sage Bench) Okanagan Valley - BC

Availability: Limited. Select private wine shops and VQA stores.
Cost: $54-60 prices vary
Alcohol: 14.2%
Production: 4350 cases
Date Tasted: July 3rd, 2010. Re-tasted September 23rd, 2010

Tasting Notes: The production of this fan-favourite wine has been capped at 4000-ish cases (depending on the yield of the vintage) in an act of self-control by the estate which adds to its cult-like status and collectability. The winery could so easily purchase more grapes and bloat the production, capitalizing on its fame. We applaud them for not giving in to the temptation and keeping the wonderfully named "Note Bene" a brand the BC wine industry can be proud of. However, the winery's practice to advertise the wine as "sold-out" is ever-so-slightly miss-leading. It's not actually that hard to get your hands on a bottle, especially this year, as many VQA and private stores have it in stock. They may not have walk-up sales for this wine at the cellar door, but look around and you'll find it.

This wine may be based on a classic Bordeaux-style blend but it reminded us more of a quality Super-Tuscan with great vegetal notes on the nose and earthiness on the palate. The Note Bene is a blend of  Cabernet Sauvignon (48%), Merlot (41%) and Cabernet Franc (11%) which produce intense aromas of cassis, dark fruit, licorice, oak spice, French vanilla, forest floor and cigar box. Equally big flavours of cherry cola, blackberry liqueur, blueberries, espresso beans, wet cigar and toasted oak follow suit on the richly-textured and full-bodied palate. Good length and balance to the finish.

The 2008 vintage tasted a bit tight and could use a little more time to develop. But don't wait too long as this vintage has less of the ripe tannins needed for really long cellaring. Drink 2011-2016.
 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2010 (with Hugh Carter)