One of the cult producers of Canada offers British Columbia’s rare example of Carménère only to club members, and this Andrew Peller gem along the Black Sage Bench can boast of 4 acres of the fascinating red Bordeaux grape in its two vineyards. Those plantings represent about a quarter of the Carm in the province, and it’s worth noting Cabernet Franc, not Carménère, factors into Black Hills’s flagship Nota Bene. New Zealand native Ross Wise took over the winemaking at Black Hills on the heels of this vintage and prior to earning his Master of Wine diploma after passing both exams on his first attempt. This is a textbook example of Carm grown in the Pacific Northwest, offering intense aromas of herbs, dried black fruit, red pepper flakes and pepperoni. Its suave structure of sandy tannins brings along dried Bing cherry, cloves and a bite of blueberry. It’s ideal with smoked ribs, grilled beef, backyard burgers, black bean tacos and hearty stews.
Rating: Excellent
Production: 300 cases
Alcohol 12.6%
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