After back to back harsh winters that decimated the Okanagan Valley, Black Hills Estate Winery sourced fruit from The Rocks District AVA on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley in 2024. Before making any decisions, the Black Hills winemaking team, led by Head Winemaker Ryan McKibbon, spent countless hours on the ground in Oregon—walking vineyard rows, tasting broadly, and building relationships. Known for producing world-class Syrah, the region delivers wines that are deeply meaty, earthy, and full of rugged black fruit. Ryan was also impressed by the Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, both showing intense minerality. All of the fruit Black Hills sourced was farmed by Earl Brown & Sons, led by Jack Klipfel. Throughout this transition, Black Hills remained focused on producing wines that reflected their philosophy of care and precision. The Hiatus Collection captures this chapter: a pause with purpose.
A cooler-than-average spring slowed early vine development across much of the The Rocks District AVA. As the season advanced into late August and September, cooler night time temperatures introduced the diurnal shift needed for flavour development and natural acidity retention. Fortunately, fall frosts held off until November, giving the fruit exceptional hang time in the lower-lying vineyard blocks. These favourable late-season conditions, combined with attentive vineyard management, culminated in a successful and balanced harvest. The grapes were all hand-harvested, destemmed and fermented with wild yeasts before spending 10 months in concrete and French oak barriques. This red blend consists of 44% Syrah, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, 5% Malbec, and 3% Sangiovese.
Tasting this wine from (concrete) tank earlier this year, I knew I wanted to include this wine in a future club shipment. Year over year, it continues to be one of the best value wines in the province – the 2022 and 2023 vintages won a platinum at the National Wine Awards – and the 2024 vintage uses super premium fruit from The Rocks.
Tasting Note
The Rocks District’s rugged terrain comes through in the glass, offering a distinct mineral-driven profile that anchors the wine. Juicy layers of ripe blackberry and dark cherry unfold with supple tannins, and a beautifully textured finish. A masterful balance of fruit concentration and refined elegance.
Food Pairing
Black Hills’ 2024 Bona Fide asks for food with some umami, a little sweetness and fat. With that in mind, we recommend simple roasted root vegetables for their sweetness like beets, parsnips and carrots, accompanied by an umami-rich mushroom risotto with a generous dusting of parmigiano. Should you have a meat lover at the table, braised short ribs will effortlessly add to this dinner.