You could say that the Clark & Telephone is the most masculine of the four single vineyard Pinot Noirs that Joe Wagner makes under the Belle Glos label. The vineyards are: Las Alturas (planted high in the Santa Lucia highlands), Taylor Lane (close to the ocean and resulting fog on the coast) and this Clark & Telephone in Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara. The newest edition is the Dairyman Vineyard Pinot Noir, which hails from Russian River, also very near the Pacific Ocean.
Luscious fruit dominates - juicy cherry and black raspberry aromas tango with rose petals and violets harnessed to a core of fine spice, rainforest floor, cedar, cocoa and star anise. It is silky and plush with sweet and supple fruit yet it has firmness in its structure. Lovely acidity keeps it fresh and the finish is both persistent and generous.
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 24th, 2013

Winemaker Laurie Hook continues to make exceptional wines for this historic estate winery - the wines are elegant, with old world charm combined with new world fruit. Knight's Valley is more rustic than many nearby regions and has volcanic and alluvial soils, which Hook feels produces the unique characteristics she desires in this wine.
The Knight's Valley exemplifies this. Expect plush cassis and sweet spices, dark chocolate, graphite and mint, roasted coffee and savoury undertones of dried herbs and roasted bell peppers. It is a mouthfilling and lush wine laden with dark fruit, mocha and brown spices. It has wonderful acidity to balance, fantastic concentration and a lengthy spiced cocoa finish.

©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 26th, 2012

Succulent, savoury, smooth.
Please serve this wine at a temperature slightly cooler than room temperature, it really does benefit, as do most reds, which are being served too warm.
Paprika and toasted spices, wild red berries, shaved dark chocolate and tobacco aromas rest atop charcuterie and wild herbal notes. This vintage has a fresh entry, it shows tangy red fruits, peppery spices, pipe tobacco and bitter chocolate. It's leaner than I recall from previous vintages, a medium+ body with a smooth texture.
Pair: roasted meats, pepper steak or risotto with mushroom jus and fresh savoury herbs.
©copyright 2021 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 10th, 2021

Impressive, stylish, vibrant.
Increasingly impressive, this Carmenere offers red plums and tangy red currents, Szechuan peppercorns, vanilla, baking spices and grilled red bell peppers. Amazing vibrancy and liveliness in the mouth. It delivers expressive fruit flavours layered with oodles of peppery spices. Sweet and savoury with a feminine lilt, it is a lengthy and complex wine, with ripe tannins.
©copyright 2016 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 4th, 2016

Succulent, impressive, heft.
Please serve this wine at a temperature slightly cooler than room temperature, it really does benefit, as do most red, which are being served too warm. Again, this is an impressive vintage of Black Hill's Carmenere, which is spicy and savoury with briny notes of roasted red bell peppers dusted with fleur de sel, sage and dry thyme, szechuan peppercorns, dried plums and bittersweet chocolate. Similar salty/saline and meaty spices in the mouth; it is succulent and savoury with muscular black fruits and supple tannins. Wonderful concentration and structure but most admirably, brightness to balance its heft.
Pair: roasted meats, pepper steak or risotto with mushroom jus and fresh savoury herbs.
©copyright 2017 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 21st, 2017

Succulent, impressive, enveloping.
Please serve this wine at a temperature slightly cooler than room temperature, it really does benefit, as do most red, which are being served too warm. Again, this is an impressive vintage of Black Hill's Carmenere. It is peppery and savoury with black currents, smoked cedar bacon fat and dried sage aromas. The palate is supple, succulent and enveloping. Impressive concentration and length, it trails flavours of spiced mocha and black fruits. .
Pair: roasted meats, pepper steak or risotto with mushroom jus and fresh savoury herbs.
©copyright 2018 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 27th, 2018

A signature variety for Black Hills, the 2010 vintage Carmenere shows spicy black fruit, briny green olive, roasted peppers, smoked spices and creamy dark chocolate. Wonderfully fresh in the mouth; mixed red and black fruit flavours are layered with peppery spice roasted coffee and bittersweet cocoa. Very good intensity and balance - a wine with character.
Pair with roasted meats, pepper steak or risotto with mushroom jus and plenty of fresh savoury herbs.
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - March 19th, 2013

The proprietary name Nota Bene may actually be more well-known than its maker and has long been the flagship wine of Black Hills. Each vintage, the blend changes to reflect what's been happening in the vineyard. This year it is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc.
It is a powerful wine offering roasted herbs, grilled peppers, dry earth, bittersweet cocoa and roasted coffee beans with smoked spice and toasted oak layered with plums and black currents. The palate is equally savoury - grilled peppers wrestle with dried herbs, toasted spice, cocoa and pepper and black fruit. It has excellent structure and balance with a long concentrated finish.
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 6th, 2013

The flagship Nota Bene was first produced in 1999 and is the only wine, made from the same three varieties and from the same parcel in BC, since that time. Each vintage, the blend changes to reflect what's been happening in the vineyard and this year Black Hills hit a turning point. For the first time it's dominated by Merlot (57%) with 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc. Because of this switch to Merlot dominance, it's more approachable upon release.
It is still a powerful wine and this vintage you can expect savoury notes of grilled jalapeno peppers and toasted brown spices atop cassis, red plums, dark mocha, pencil shavings and a potpourri of cedar chips and dried wildflowers. The palate is supple with generous fruit but still has a somewhat brooding character. Wild briary fruits, dark chocolate and espresso, toasted spices and pepper flavours dominate.
Another vintage with excellent structure and a long concentrated finish. Drink now to 2024.
©copyright 2014 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - May 28th, 2014

The proprietary name Nota Bene may actually be more well-known than its maker and has long been the flagship wine of Black Hills. Each vintage, the blend changes to reflect what's been happening in the vineyard. This year it has about 10% more Cabernet as Merlot takes a smaller role (57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot & 11% Cabernet Franc).
It is a potent and powerful wine, which leads with aromas of cassis and black plum, tobacco, bittersweet mocha and brown spices and is rounded out with green olives and pepper. It has a supple palate with generous fruit underscored with savoury, meaty flavours. The finish is long, fresh and trails dark chocolate, coffee and spice flavours.
©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 19th, 2012

Rich, supple, significant.

The flagship Nota Bene was first produced in 1999 and is the only wine, made from the same three varieties and from the same parcel in BC, since that time. Each vintage, the blend changes to reflect what's been happening in the vineyard and this year is a blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot (2012 was Merlot dominant) and 11% Cabernet Franc. It was aged in 80% French/20% American oak - new, second and third fill.
The nose is fragrant, rich and chocolaty - layered with plums, wild black berries, spice cake, purple flowers, leather, pipe tobacco, Szechuan peppercorns and grilling red bell peppers. The palate is supple; berry liqueur flavours meld with mocha and smoked peppery spices. Fresh and youthful (but drinking well) with ripe tannins, significant weight and persistence.
©copyright 2015 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - April 5th, 2015

Generous, supple, substantial
The 2014 Black Hills Nota Bene is Cabernet Sauvignon dominant with the addition of 33 percent Merlot and 15 percent Cabernet Franc. It is an undeniably complete flagship wine, proudly showing its pedigree of older vines and perceptive winemaking. Nota Bene is the only red blend in the Okanagan, which has been made from the same three varieties, from same parcel, each consecutive year, since 1999. Additionally, this vintage spent six months longer in oak than previous ones - an evolutionary modification Black Hills' winemaker Graham Pierce believes will extend the wine's age-ability.

It exhibits plush aromas of chocolate, black raspberry and wild currents, vanilla, licorice and baking spice, which is lifted with a breath of mint to add brightness and is juxtaposed with leather and pipe tobacco to keep it in all in check. The palate is all that and more; supple weight, generous fruit, structure and balance. The tannins are powdery and add pleasing texture. It is a substantial yet chic red, aptly woven and integrated, boasting a lengthy mocha finish.
©copyright 2016 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 2nd, 2016

Just released!
The third vintage of the Black Hills Viognier is wonderfully fresh. It leads with crisp mineral notes (think fresh mountain stream), lemon and lime and follows up with still-crisp peach, musky honey and apricots with pretty wildflower notes. It has a slick texture with attractive weight and focused citrus, mineral and honey flavours. The finish is tangy and mouthwatering.
Pair with halibut, roast chicken or a thin-crust caramelized onion and soft blue cheese pizza.

©copyright 2012 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 6th, 2012

always get a kick out of the Blasted Church labels and the Merlot is no exception. On the nose, you can expect chocolate, vanilla, sweet spices, grill green bell peppers and leather atop a meaty, savoury core. In the mouth, flavours of dusty plums, cocoa and spice. Good acidity here, but with some astingency.
©copyright 2013 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - September 10th, 2013

Juicy, alluring, magical.
This bar-raising Gamay is utterly alluring, offering beguiling aromas of raspberry in vanilla syrup, lilacs, star-anise and cocoa with sweet spices. It is equally magical and balanced on the palate; it's silky and juicy, laden with high-toned fruit and sweet spice. Charming and fresh with a long sweet finish.
Pair: cedar planked salmon, pork tenderloin with berry sauces, grilled chicken, chorizo or soft, washed rind cheeses.
©copyright 2017 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - February 8th, 2017

Tangy, pristine, delicious.
Consistently solid, classic Blue Mountain in style, this fresh Pinot Blanc leads with creamy golden apples and honey, tangerine and spring blossoms with undertones of wild grasses. The palate echoes the nose with orchard fruits and zesty citrus flavours. The palate is pristine and tangy, dry and precise.
©copyright 2019 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - October 17th, 2019

Elegant, seamless, restrained.
Consistently elegant in classic Blue Mountain in style, this fresh Pinot Blanc shows golden pears, warm honey, wet stone, star fruit and lemongrass aromas. Mouthwatering yet creamy it has restrained fruit - think citrus and mineral rather than fruit - and a dry and seamless palate.
©copyright 2020 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - August 7th, 2020

Juicy, pristine, harmonious.
Seriously great value with a harmonious character, this version Pinot Blanc delivers precision aromas of peaches and pears, exotic citrus and wildflowers, honey and lemongrass. Just as fruity and floral and juicy on the palate as the nose suggests; great purity and concentration. Delicious.
©copyright 2017 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - November 1st, 2017

Juicy, pristine, delicious.
An excellent value for a wine of this character. Yellow fruits and spring blossoms, honey and lemongrass aromas lead to a woven palate that is pristine; tangy and juicy. A fine reflection of this variety, it is dry and precise.
Delicious.
©copyright 2018 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - December 7th, 2018

Bright, crisp, focused.
Expect fresh and bright notes of citrus, golden apples and crisp pears, spring flowers, honey and hints of Pinot's earthy undertones follow up. The palate is creamy and citrusy with spice and leesy flavours.
Solid and focused, not showy
©copyright 2015 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - January 21st, 2015