WTN: God Save Nota Bene

[Jenise]

2008 Black Hills Estate Nota Bene Okanagan Valley VQA Red Bordeaux Blend
Lacking any British wines, we turned to the Commonwealth and opened this wine last night to pay our respects to the reign of ERII. Maroon-black in color, decanted for one hour to aerate and remove minor sediment. A perfect blend of dark blackberry and plum fruit with some earth and savory nuances. If you had told me it was Bordeaux, I'd have believed you. Long finish. I'll hold my original forecast of 2025 or beyond.

I've found that they need maybe 10+ years to develop before they lose the big black fruit that labels them as New World wines. Tastings I've done early on have them showing much more American in style but then they mellow out (they are usually a blend of four Bordeaux varietals and get French oak).

Black Hills was founded by Bob and Senka Tenant and when the other partners retired they sold it and founded Terravista, which makes some of the nicest white wines in BC. They sold Terravista in 2019 but Senka continues on as consulting winemaker. They make a small quantity of Syrah that isn't generally sold to the public - it is a good wine with medium weight (I have a bunch stashed).

Senka is the wine consultant for Lariana. She loves Albariño and Verdejo, Marsanne, Viognier and Roussanne and in several cases they were the only ones in B.C. growing those varietals.

[Jenise]

Re the syrah, do you mean under the Black Hills label? I have a singleton of the '15 which I either bought at Everything Wine (where I once purchased some Black Hills Viognier, which was closer to Condrieu in style than typical American viogniers which you know I despise) or drug home from a wine store in Jasper (where I know I bought some things, just not exactly sure which).

I also dared risk the Lariana Viognier a few weeks ago at Liberty on Granville Island--I was aware of the connection.

No the Syrah is an under the table experimental wine made at Terravista. The Black Hills Syrah is a bigger beefier Syrah - I still have some 2012 if you want to taste it.