Black Hills

British Columbia
Oliver

Black Hills Estate Winery Carmenere, Okanagan Valley BC
Readers rated this wine:
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
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93 Points
 

380063
UPC Code -626990061540
Agency: Landmark Selections

Black Hills Estate Winery Carmenere, Okanagan Valley BC
Readers rated this wine:
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
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93 Points
 

380063
UPC Code -626990061540
Agency: Landmark Selections

Black Hills Estate Winery Carmenere, Okanagan Valley BC, 2010
Readers rated this wine:

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
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90 Points
 

380063
UPC Code -626990061540
Agency: Landmark Selections

Black Hills Estate Winery "Nota Bene", Okanagan Valley BC
Readers rated this wine:
Iconic, concentrated, brooding.
At 23 years, Black Hill's Nota Bene is as influential as ever.
The 2021 vintage marks more than two decades since this iconic wine's creation, and while it remains consistently commanding, each vintage varies.
There is a reason people rejoice in Nota Bene's annual release - vintage after vintage you can depend on Black Hills to offer one of the most consistently viable expressions of an outstanding BC red blend.
2021 was a hot vintage, which doesn't always mean great things for wine. Black Hills has released a guide to go with the vintage, which not only includes a "drink or hold" cellaring adviser, but a note on how to cellar and why.
Winemaker Ross Wise MW, "...this was one of the most challenging vintages to date due to the extreme heat. The timing of harvest in order to maintain freshness was both critical and paramount in his decision making. For reference, the heat accumulation for 2021 ranks with the 2015 and 2003 vintages for parallels."
Blend: 42% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot.

It's a brooding wine with notes of pencil shavings and plum, black raspberry, dark chocolate and savoury spices are underscored by charred licorice, espresso, leather, beef jerky, and wild black berries. The palate echoes the nose; olives and black fruit, prune, scorched earth and toasted spice, black chocolate and coffee flavours dominate. There is a tanginess in the mouth and it's highly concentrated.
Recommend cellaring up to 2035.
I tasted after opening and again after 24 hours.
©copyright 2023 Daenna Van Mulligen
Wine Scores Reviewed - June 26th, 2023
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92 Points
 

708073
UPC Code -626990061533
Agency: Landmark Selections

Black Hills Estate Winery "Nota Bene", Okanagan Valley BC
Readers rated this wine:

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
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91 Points
 

708073
UPC Code -626990061533
Agency: Landmark Selections