A New Chapter for an Iconic BC Red Blend
After more than 25 years of crafting Nota Bene from the Black Sage Bench, Black Hills Estate Winery found itself facing an entirely new chapter.
The 2024 Hiatus Collection was born from necessity after extreme winter damage forced the team to look beyond its estate vineyards. But rather than replicate the past, Head Winemaker Ryan McKibbon and his team used this pause as an opportunity to explore.
Sourced from the Rocks District AVA in Walla Walla and finished in the Okanagan Valley, the 2024 Nota Bene becomes something both familiar and completely new. A wine shaped by logistics, collaboration, resilience, and craftsmanship.
Rather than departing from Black Hills’ identity, the 2024 Nota Bene feels like a thoughtful extension of it, composed, alive, and deeply rooted in a sense of place.🍷
Black Hills Estate Winery Nota Bene 2024 – Hiatus Collection
Varietals
- 43% Merlot
- 34% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 23% Cabernet Franc
Winemaking
Hand-harvested and bunch-sorted before destemming, leaving the whole berries intact. Fermented with wild yeasts and matured for 18 months in French oak barriques and puncheons, with 44% new oak.
Technical Notes
- 13.7% alc./vol.
- pH: 3.9
- TA: 5.0 g/L
- RS: 0.2 g/L
- 1,567 cases produced
Tasting Notes
The 2024 Nota Bene opens with a quiet confidence, led by Merlot at its core and shaped by Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Aromas of black cherry, wild blackberry, dried herbs, graphite, and subtle floral notes rise from the glass.
On the palate, the wine is layered and beautifully composed, showing ripe black fruit, cassis, plum, espresso, crushed stone, dark chocolate and savoury earthy undertones. The tannins are initially firm and slightly grippy upon opening, but gradually soften and become more polished as the wine evolves in the glass, revealing additional texture and balance with air.
The influence of The Rocks District emerges more prominently with time, bringing mineral tension and a grounded sense of place that carries through the long, structured finish.
Despite its concentration and structure, the wine maintains freshness and elegance throughout, balancing Walla Walla power with the refined precision that has long defined Nota Bene.
A short decant is recommended in its youth. The wine should continue to evolve beautifully over the next 10–15 years.
94 Points 🍷
Celebrating the Next Chapter of Nota Bene
The highly anticipated 2024 Nota Bene will first be released exclusively to Wine Club members at the winery on June 12. The following evening, Black Hills Estate Winery will open the experience to the public with the highly anticipated “Nota Bene Soirée” on June 13 at the winery’s Wine Experience Centre.
Guests attending the soirée will be among the first members of the public to taste the new vintage of Nota Bene alongside other wines from the Black Hills portfolio. The evening will feature chef stations curated by Zac Chan of Cocktails & Canapes, with winemaker Ryan McKibbon on hand to share insights into the winemaking and viticultural journey behind this new chapter of Nota Bene.
Adding to the atmosphere, DJ Chloe Morgan will provide live music blending classics with original vocals and contemporary energy. Limited ticket availability is designed to create a more intimate experience, with shuttle service included from Penticton, Oliver, and Osoyoos.
Wine Club members receive an exclusive 15% discount on tickets.
More details and tickets are available through Black Hills Estate Winery.
Final Thoughts
The 2024 Hiatus Collection Nota Bene is more than simply a response to difficult growing conditions. It represents resilience, adaptability, and the willingness to embrace change without compromising quality.
While longtime Nota Bene fans may initially approach this release with curiosity, the wine quickly earns its place on its own merits. It is a compelling and highly successful interpretation of the Black Hills philosophy through a different lens, one that still delivers the balance, texture, and precision that made Nota Bene one of BC’s most iconic red blends in the first place.
For collectors and BC wine enthusiasts alike, the 2024 Hiatus Collection may ultimately stand as one of the most fascinating and historically significant Nota Bene releases ever produced.
Price & Availability
Available through Black Hills Estate Winery and select Wine Club allocations beginning June 12, 2026.