Black Hills Estate Winery in Oliver, B.C.Black Hills Estate Winery/Supplied
Black Hills cabernet and merlot blend, Nota Bene, has captured the attention of critics and enthusiasts for the past 25 years. “It’s our best red wine and a showcase of each vintage,” explains winemaker Ryan McKibbon, who has worked at the Oliver-based winery since 2018.
He says that the release of Nota Bene 2024 continues that story, even if it’s made with grapes grown in the Oregon portion of the Walla Walla Valley, which were selected to replace the lost crop in the Okanagan after the replanting of Black Hills’ vineyards owing to severe frost damage.
McKibbon and his predecessor Ross Wise, who left Black Hills in November, 2024, for a winemaking position in his native New Zealand, visited wineries and vineyards in the Pacific Northwest to find grapes that would match the style of the wines they typically produce in British Columbia. They needed to find replacement grapes to have product to sell or risk having no wine from the 2024 harvest.
From deciding which vineyards to work with at the start to travelling back and forth during the growing season to determine when to harvest those grapes and taste the wines before transporting them back to Black Hills winery, we worked to create a wine that fits the Nota Bene profile, McKibbon explains.
“It just felt right to label it as Nota Bene rather than come up with a different name for what is to be a one-time release,” he says. The label of the 2024 release reads Nota Bene Hiatus Collection, which is the name given to all the wines Black Hills produced with fruit purchased from south of the border.
The winemaking team decided to base their blend on cabernet franc grapes from The Rocks District (of Milton-Freewalter) region located on the Oregon side of the larger Walla Walla appellation and merlot from hillside vineyards in another part of Walla Walla.
“We thought together those would create an expression that was unique to Walla Walla but also related to our established style,” he says.
The 2024 vintage of Nota Bene will be released to members of Black Hills’ wine starting June 1. The 2025 release will be based once again on cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot grapes grown from vineyards on the Black Sage Bench near the winery.
The new Nota Bene is recommended this week with other noteworthy red and rosé wines that have been recently released.
Black Hills Estate Winery Nota Bene Hiatus Collection 2024 (Canada), $70
Black Hills Estate Winery/Supplied
Rating: 93
In a typical year, Nota Bene is produced using grapes from the Black Sage Bench.
Those cabernet and merlot blends often display a combination of succulent fruit flavours and savoury complexity contributing to its polished and refreshing character.
This year Black Hills uses grapes from the Walla Walla Valley, which straddles the Washington and Oregon border, to create a rich and ripe red wine with ample structure and a long spicy finish.
The depth of fruit and vibrant character show a different personality than usual, but it’s an intriguing powerful and plush red wine that marks an unusual chapter in the history of Okanagan winemaking.
This has 14 per cent alcohol by volume and 0.2 grams a litre residual sugar.
Drink now to 2035.
Available direct, blackhillswinery.com
Château d’Aquéria Tavel Rosé 2025 (France), $25.95
Château d’Aquéria/Supplied
Rating: 93
Now operated by the Guigal family, Château d’Aquéria is the largest estate in Tavel, and one of the most recognizable labels from the Rhône region known for producing exclusively rosé wines.
True to the regional style, this deeply coloured pink wine is attractive and layered, with concentrated spice, berry, citrus, pomegranate and herbal notes on display.
The flavours are focused and fresh, with a lingering finish that makes this a terrific food wine.
It’s always a popular bottle at family Thanksgiving dinners.
This has 13.5 per cent ABV and 3 g/litre r.s.
Drink now to 2030.
Available at the above price in Ontario, various prices in Alberta, $30.99 in Newfoundland.
Clos du Soleil Syrah 2022 (Canada), $45.95
Rating: 93
Clos du Soleil winemaker Michael Clark remains a staunch advocate for the Similkameen Valley, even as the region bounces back from losing two vintages (2023 and 2024) to freezing temperatures.
His admiration is grounded in the exceptional wines that the Similkameen can craft, such as this fragrant and flavourful syrah showcasing intense dark fruit, floral and sage flavours.
It’s a delight expression of the grape and the place, balancing fruit intensity with savoury character for a complex and age-worthy red wine.
This has 14 per cent ABV and 2 g/litre r.s. Vegan.
Drink now to 2032.
Available at the above price in Ontario, $38.99 in British Columbia, $39.90 direct, closdusoleil.ca, various prices in Alberta.
Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino 2020 (Italy), $68.95
Rating: 95
Established in 1974, this Montalcino winery oversees one of the largest certified organic vineyards in Tuscany.
The 2020 vintage of its classic Brunello label reveals a mix of red berry and cherry flavours with citrus peel, herbal and spice notes.
The style is nicely structured with firm but fine tannins that are balanced by the fruit flavours that carry through to a lingering gravelly finish.
This can be enjoyed now, but this can age easily for another 10 years.
This has 14.5 per cent ABV and 3 g/litre r.s.
Drink now to 2038.
Available at the above price in Ontario, $75.99 in British Columbia, various prices in Alberta, $66.50 in Quebec.
Mirada Organic Rosé 2025 (Spain), $16.95
Rating: 87
Made in Castilla-La Mancha in central Spain, this pleasant organic rosé is made from bobal, the third most planted grape variety in the country.
The finished wine offers a fresh mix of red berry, melon and citrus peel flavours.
Its straightforward dry and youthful style is easy to appreciate with or without food.
This has 13 per cent ABV and 3 g/litre r.s.
Drink now.
Available at the above price in Ontario, various prices in Alberta, $16.99 in Manitoba.