Black Hills
Black Hills
AboutBlack Hills
Senka Tennant saw the potential for late-ripening Bordeaux varieties at an abandoned site on British Columbia’s Black Sage Bench. Sharp Rock and Double Black vineyards were planted in 1996, followed by the first Nota Bene blend in 1999.
Ryan McKibbon became head winemaker in 2025 after joining the cellar ahead of the 2022 vintage. The estate works with Cabernet-led blends as well as Syrah, Carménère and Tempranillo, and has farmed its estate vineyards organically since 2020.
Black Hills 2023 Nota Bene
Canadian Red
$87.99
Fresh red and black fruit lead a silky, finely handled palate. Dense, sweet tannins give the wine depth without sacrificing finesse, while earlier picking and restrained new oak preserve freshness and detail. The texture is polished, the structure firm but approachable, and the fruit remains clear through the finish. Decant briefly and serve with grilled beef, lamb or mushrooms.
Black Hills 2023 Viognier
Canadian White
$46.99
Orange blossom and honeysuckle lead the aroma, with tree-ripened apricot, lemon, peach yoghurt and subtle spice. The texture is rich and creamy, with crisp acidity and a long finish. The grapes are hand harvested, bunch sorted and whole-bunch pressed. Fermentation uses concrete, stainless steel and neutral oak puncheons. Maturation lasts six months on fine lees. The wine is entirely Viognier and contains fourteen percent alcohol.
Black Hills 2022 Nota Bene Okanagan Valley
Canadian Red
$86.99
Dewberry, black cherry, herbal notes and floral lift are joined by redcurrant, sweet mint and raspberry blossom. The palate is rich and fresh, with fine-grained tannins. The blend is forty-six percent Merlot, thirty-six percent Cabernet Sauvignon and eighteen percent Cabernet Franc. Wild yeasts conduct fermentation, and ageing lasts eighteen months in French-oak barriques and puncheons, forty-seven percent new. Alcohol is fourteen and a half percent.
Black Hills 2006 Nota Bene
Canadian Red
$99.99
Cabernet Sauvignon makes up forty-seven percent of the blend, with thirty-seven percent Merlot and sixteen percent Cabernet Franc. Tobacco leaf, green olive, sage, tomato leaf and menthol sit beside coffee, pepper, cassis and saddle leather. The palate is round, dry and moderately smooth, with light tannins. Smoky, meaty and savoury notes are also present. Alcohol is fourteen-point-seven percent.
Black Hills 2001 Nota Bene
Canadian Red
$99.99
Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for forty-six percent of the blend, with thirty-five percent Merlot and nineteen percent Cabernet Franc. Dry cedar, peppery leather, green bean and bell pepper sit beside mint, tobacco and smoky vanilla. The wine has ample extract and fourteen percent alcohol. Production totalled 1,800 cases. Root vegetable, smoky liquorice and peppery olive are also present.
Black Hills 2002 Nota Bene
Canadian Red
$99.99
Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for forty-eight percent of the blend, with thirty-seven percent Merlot and fifteen percent Cabernet Franc. Black pepper, roasted bell pepper, roots, leaves and saddle leather sit beside smoky vanilla, green bean, olive, cassis, black cherry, stewed tomato and resin. The entry is rich and smooth, with ripe tannins. Alcohol is fourteen-point-five percent.
Black Hills 2007 Nota Bene
Canadian Red
$99.99
Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for forty-six percent of the blend, with thirty-nine percent Merlot and fifteen percent Cabernet Franc. Black cherry and cassis sit alongside savoury espresso, pipe tobacco and roasted tomato. A dusty finish is also present. The texture is soft, with rich fine-grained tannins and a warm, smooth finish. Alcohol is fourteen-point-seven percent by volume.