Black Hills heralds Year of The Snake

Photo: Black Hills winemaker Ross Wise MW

Black Hills Estate Winery is offering two vintages of its flagship Nota Bene red – 2013 and 2022 – to mark the current Lunar New Year’s Year of the Snake. “As we step into the Year of the Snake, we’re reminded of the qualities this symbol embodies: wisdom, transformation, and understated sophistication,” the winery writes. “Much like the Snake’s graceful movement, this year encourages us to pause, reflect, and embrace moments of growth and renewal. It’s a time to celebrate quiet confidence, strategic thinking, and the beauty of transformation, both in nature and in business.”

2013 was the previous Year of the Snake while the 2022 vintage was arguably the finest vintage so far in the Okanagan. Black Hills is offering this Nota Bene pair for $190, warning that the availability is limited. If you miss out on this offering, let me suggest a different pair of Black Hills red wines from the 2021 vintage, which comes close to matching the quality of 2022. Keep in mind that the weather events of 2023 and 2024 have required Black Hills to replant its vineyards. Winemaker Ross Wise still made wines in the 2024 vintage with grapes from Washington State. Since he would have sourced quality grapes, I am looking forward to those wines. In the meantime, seize the chance to buy wines from previous Black Hills Okanagan vintages while they are still available.

Black Hills Tempranillo 2021 ($60 for 258 cases). This wine is for the Black Hills wine club. Tempranillo is a Spanish varietal that does well in hot climates – and 2021 was a hot vintage in the Okanagan. This wine was fermented with wild yeast and aged 18 months in French oak barrels (36% new). The wine begins with aromas of blackberry, dark cherry and red licorice. The palate is both bright and savoury, with flavours of dark cherry and blueberry. The long, ripe tannins give the wine a lingering finish. 93.

Black Hills Per Se 2021 ($60 for 744 cases). This is a blend of 82% Cabernet Franc and 18% Merlot, fermented with wild yeast and aged 18 months in French oak barrels (38% new). The wine begins with aromas of cherry, blackberry and raspberry with a note of chocolate. All of this is echoed on the opulent palate and concentrated flavours. The finish is rich and persistent. 94.