Black Hills 2023 Nota Bene 750ml

The 2023 Nota Bene concludes a series of releases spanning 25 years. Vineyard damage prompted former general manager and chief winemaker Ross Wyse to remove the vines and start anew, while current winemaker Ryan McKibbon, who joined before the '22 harvest, has been managing the cellars and will prepare for future releases. The '23 vintage is a blend of 37/35/28 cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and cabernet franc. Wyse refined Nota Bene by enhancing its characteristics, reducing some of the greenness, adjusting the oak regime, and tweaking vineyard management. Today, the wine undergoes wild fermentation in French puncheons and is aged in a mix of smaller French oak barriques and puncheons for a year and a half. Only 41% of the wine is exposed to new oak. While the ’22 vintage sets a high standard, 2023 aims to meet expectations, presenting Black Sage Bench dry, savoury notes and a mid-palate of black and ripe red fruit with a touch of smoke in the finish. The tannin is dense and expected to integrate into the wine over time.

Score: 91 points -- Anthony Gismondi, Gismondi On Wine, 2025