Black Hills Estate 2008 Nota Bene

Date tasted: 11-12 May, 2011

Where: purchased Vancouver, BC (tasted in Mpls)

Price: $$$

Notes: a Bordeaux-style blend of 41% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cab Franc. A lucky find, as this vintage had been technically "sold out" for almost a year. Fruity on the nose, but not at all jammy. Merlot does a nice job of balancing the heavier notes in the cabs. A little shorter on the palette than I'd hoped, but worked well with a variety of flavors: dark chocolate, St. Marcellin soft cheese, baba ganoush and smoked AK sockeye salmon.

2007 Road 13 Fifth Element

Date tasted: 9 May, 2011

Where: purchased Vancouver, BC (tasted in Mpls)

Price: $$

Notes: a Bordeaux-style blend of 58% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cab Franc. Top of the line blend from this South Okanagan Valley vintner. Nice tannins and oak (s?), as well as notes of leather and tobacco, all finely enough balanced to drink now, but likely to age well, too. Paired with home cooked round tip steak (to which it was added as part of a jerk, herbs de provence and au jus reduction), followed by prosciutto-wrapped dates stuffed with fromage bleu and thick cut uncured bacon. This is a serious effort, to be paired with red meat.