Carl's Wine Club
Why Black Market?
​...because members voted Black Market our #1 Winery of the Year (BC) and the 2019 Syndicate was our #7 Top Wine of 2021!

...because you can step into the Old World, through the New World's front door. These wines are terroir-driven and well balanced - and they all over deliver for their price point.

...because you can discover a little known terroir. Kaleden, BC is a hidden gem in the Okanagan and an up-and-coming wine producing area.

...because the Syndicate, Syrah and others have quickly become member-favourites in Carl's Wine Club, and you might find yourself wishing you had ordered more before they sell out!

Curated Selection:

6-bottle Discovery Pack: $201.85 including tax/deposits
✔️ 2021 Black Market "Secret Society" White Blend | $24.25
✔️ 2021 Black Market "Estate Series" Bacchus | $24.25
✔️ 2021 Black Market "Omerta" Rosé | $30
✔️ 2019 Black Market “Unsanctioned Series” Merlot | $44.95
✔️ 2019 Black Market Syrah | $38.05
✔️ 2019 Black Market “The Syndicate” | $40.35
Shipping up to 11 bottles: $31 BC | $36 AB| $46 SK MB | $56 ON | $71 QC NS NB PEI NL YK NT

Shipping 12 or more bottles (save $25): $6 BC | $11 AB| $21 SK MB | $31 ON | $46 QC NS NB PEI NL YK NT


Wanna save another $6 off shipping? Choose Canada Post to receive an extra $6 off.

Shipping Methods: Temperature-controlled ATS | Canada Post for PO Boxes or by request

Tasting Notes

2020 "Unsanctioned Series" Pinot Blanc
BC VQA, Okanagan Valley
100% Pinot Blanc | Dry wine (RS 3.0 g/ltr)
92pts Carl’s Wine Club

One of the rare barrel fermented / barrel aged Pinot Blanc from the Okanagan Valley… and certainly one of my favorite! The oak influence is present on the texture but do not interfere with the aromas the flavors. The winemaker did a very good job integrating the oak in the process and the flavors are more concentrated than the previous vintages. The nose screams tropical notes like guava, tangerine, meyer lemon and white tea. The palate offers white peach, mango, honeydew, a slight and pleasant grapefruit acidity, dry basil and a mouth-watering long finish! Another great showing from the Conviction Ridge Vineyard. 65 cases made.

Food pairing: crusted salmon, baked brie
Drink now until 2028
Winery price: $28
2019 Black Market “Secret Society” Red
BC VQA, Okanagan Valley
Secret Blend of 5 Varietals | Dry wine (RS 2.3 g/ltr)
89pts Carl’s Wine Club

This red blend has improved and evolved a lot over the years. The 2019 version is fuller and richer than the previous Secret Society reds. The nose screams dark fruits, dark chocolate and cedar, even offering a slight glimpse of smoke. The palate opens up with dark cherry and blackberry followed by notes of tobacco and dark cocoa. The finish is medium long with round and velvety tannins offering a touch of cloves at the end. The perfect BBQ wine. 260 cases made.

Food pairing: BBQ ribs, cheeseburger
Drink now until 2025
Winery price: $32.00 
2021 Black Market “Secret Society” White Blend
BC VQA, Okanagan Valley
Secret Blend | Dry wine
Not Rated Yet

Rob likes to play with the Secret Society wines he creates. By not disclosing the grape varietals, he takes away all preconceived notions that you may have… and I like that. Bright and fruity, this wine shows savoury undertones that surface on the mid-palate and persist on the finish. Aromas & flavours of honeysuckle, rose water, dried sage, thyme, tangerine peel, pear, grapefruit, candied ginger and lychee: you’ll find this wine approachable and very refreshing, with a long and clean finish.

Food pairing: burrata salad, Thai chicken skewers
Drink now until 2024
Winery price: $21 | $24.25 incl. tax/dep
2021 Black Market “Estate Series” Bacchus
BC VQA, Okanagan Valley
100% Bacchus | Dry
92pts Carl’s Wine Club

I’ve heard that there is a cult following of Black Market Bacchus lovers, and after tasting this 2021 vintage, I am ready to jump on board! This Estate-grown wine offers expressive aromatics that include herbaceousness, grassiness and orchard fruits. The 2021 vintage delivers a round and creamy palate with a nice concentration and flavours of poached pear, thyme, sage, and pink grapefruit. On the finish I found a bite of lime peel and a flinty minerality that persists to the very end. This wine is a new and pleasant surprise in my repertoire of Rock Star wines, and I can’t wait to blind taste everyone I know with this wine all summer! (CWC, 04/11/22).

Food pairing: chicken cordon bleu, white wine and garlic mussels
Drink now until 2025
Winery price: $21 | $24.25 incl. tax/dep
2021 Black Market "Omerta" Rosé
BC VQA, Okanagan Valley
100% Cabernet Franc | Dry
90pts Carl’s Wine Club

Sensual, plush and luscious…this is a rosé with weight and concentration, while the acidity shines from start to finish. Slightly savoury and herbaceous aromas such as strawberry rhubarb pie lead the way to a creamy and unctuous palate of apricot, yellow plum, and stewed strawberries. Made in the Provençale method via direct press with very limited skin contact, this rosé is a true reflection of the 2021 vintage. The revelation resides in the bold and lengthy finish led by white chocolate and white pepper. (CWC, 04/11/22).

Food pairing: grilled sausages, bocconcini salad
Drink now until 2023
Winery price: $26 | $30 incl. tax/dep
2019 Black Market “Unsanctioned Series” Merlot
BC VQA, Okanagan Valley
100% Merlot | Dry
92pts Carl’s Wine Club

A spectacular red, bold wine from the 2019 vintage which has everything it takes to blow your socks off. Depth, concentration, length, and complexity can all be checked off the list for this 100% Estate grown Merlot from the Conviction Ridge Vineyard in Kaleden, BC. A nose of cassis with earthy undertones of forest floor and tobacco leaves announce its style right out of the gate. The front palate is already soft with round yet lively tannins. The acidity persevered throughout, while the wine evolved gracefully during the two hours I had it open. Like many of the 2019 reds, this Merlot is surprisingly approachable early on. The front palate is filled with cassis, plum, blackberry and black cherry while the mid-palate offers mocha, cedar, and a hint of vanilla. The lengthy back palate offers subtle notes of cinnamon, cloves and also finishes with cracked black pepper. A wine with a long cellaring potential at an outstanding price point! (CWC, 04/11/22).

Food pairing: smoked beef brisket, caramelized roasted vegetables
Drink now until 2028
Winery price: $39 | $44.95 incl. tax/dep
2018 Black Market “Unsanctioned Series” Merlot
BC, Okanagan Valley VQA
100% Merlot | Dry Wine
92pts Carl’s Wine Club

This is the first vintage of this small batch single vineyard Merlot and the result is very promising. Conviction Ridge Vineyard is located in Kaleden BC and showcases 30+ years old vines. Powerful and concentrated can be two of my favorite adjectives for this wine. Nose of pencil lead, tobacco leaves and dark plum, you know from the first snift that you have something serious and age worthy in you glass. The palate is filled with dark fruits, dark chocolate, licorice, fresh herbs and vanilla (from the 50% new oak). The finish is long and spicy mostly with cinnamon and cloves flavors and the tannins are grippy. Time will help soften the tannins. 70 cases made.

Pairings: braised lamb shanks, grilled ribeye steaks
Drink now until 2028
Winery price: $40 | $44.95 incl. tax/dep
2019 Black Market “Collusion” White
BC VQA, Okanagan Valley
50% Semillon, 50% Sauv Blanc | Dry wine (RS 1.4 g/ltr)
91pts Carl’s Wine Club

A very small amount of this Okanagan “White Bordeaux” was made in 2019 and once again, the result is stunning. What a great balance between blazing acidity and voluptuous texture. The wine is fresh and round with a nose of lemon, grapefruit and fresh cut grass. The palate opens up on high-flying notes of grapefruit, gooseberry, crabapple and lime. The back end of this wine showcases white spices and ginger for a lengthy finally. 80 cases made.

Food pairing: Thai mussels, oysters or any shellfish
Drink now until 2024
Winery price: $26.00 
2019 Black Market Syrah 
BC VQA, Okanagan Valley
93% Syrah, 7% Viognier
92pts Carl’s Wine Club

Winemaker Rob Hammersley took what mother nature gave them in 2019 and created a more muscular, concentrated and bolder wine than we are used to experience from him. Very floral on the nose with notes of smoky bacon, blueberry jam and macerated cherry, the palate shows more weight and great concentration with flavours of cassis, dark cherry and blueberry. There’s also freshness with a good dose of fresh herbs on the mid-palate, with waves of vanilla and expresso coffee before finishing more on Christmas spice than pepper at the moment, but this aspect will probably evolve with time. Very supple and round for a young wine but still, the tannins are going to mellow down with time. 150 cases made.

Food pairing: lamb loin, meat pie
Drink between 2023 and 2027
Winery price: $33 | $38.05 incl. tax/dep
2019 Black Market “The Syndicate” 
BC VQA, Okanagan Valley
41% Merlot, 31% Cab Franc, 20% Petit Verdot, 8% Cab Sauv
94pts Carl’s Wine Club

WOW… the 2019 vintage is an absolute winner! The Syndicate is the Flagship wine of Black Market and this shows all the potential that you can expect from a top Meritage. This vintage is powerful and muscular. The nose is appealing and fresh with aromas of sweet cherry, vanilla, fresh thyme, cedar box and graphite. The palate opens up with ripe blackberry, black cherry, sweet cassis and a nice wave of vanilla to make the whole first step approachable. The mid-palate brings chewy tobacco, black tea, dark chocolate, flinty minerality and also loads of complexity and intricacy. The finish is absolutely spectacular with incredible spice (mostly white pepper and clove at the moment) length and complexity. It’s hard to find a better wine at this price point.
225 cases produced.

Food pairing: roast beef, hearty beef stew
Drink between 2024 and 2029
Winery price: $35 | $40.35 incl. tax/dep
2020 Unsanctioned Series Sauvignon Blanc  | 💥 New Release 💥
BC VQA, Okanagan Valley
100% Sauvignon Blanc | Dry wine (RS 1.0 g/ltr)
*Score & Tasting Notes Coming Soon!*

This is an incredibly expressive wine. 100% Naramata Bench grapes. Absolutely bursting in the glass with aromas of grapefruit, lime, white peach and hints of flint. On the palate the vibrant Okanagan fruit notes shine through, with only a subtle hint of herbaceousness. The fruit is supported by a beautiful nervousness and tension on the finish. Crisp and dry on the palate, this wine has a roundness to the texture that softens the acidity you'd expect in a Sauvignon Blanc. (Winery Notes)  55 cases made.

Food pairing: feta and goat cheese, Thai cuisine
Drink now until 2025
Winery Price: $26

The Story & Winemaker

Fueled by passion...driven by perfection...unconstrained by tradition. That's Black Market Wine Co. based in Kaleden, BC, one of the ‘last frontiers’ of great potential in the Okanagan that is relatively unexplored. 

Black Market established their brand with a 2012 vintage, and has grown steadily over the last decade.

I chose this winery to feature because of the strong reputation they have built for small-lot, hand-crafted wines that surpass expectations. 
Winemaker Rob Hammersley and his wife Michelle Shewchuk carefully tend to their 4+ acres of estate grapes, while additional grapes are purchased from quality vineyards in the Okanagan that share the same beliefs and practices in sustainable agriculture.

There are many exciting wines that will come from this boutique producer. Each vintage, they become harder and harder to acquire before they sell out. Now is the time to taste them for yourself!

Cheers,
Carl
For many years while still living in Calgary, Black Market owners Rob and Michelle would travel to the Okanagan in search of the small boutique wines that weren’t available in the Alberta market. 

 Inevitably, they would fill their car with cases and cases of amazing wines…and “smuggle” them back across the border to share with family and friends. They became known as the Wine Black Marketeers, so when they set up their own winery, choosing the name was easy! 
Rob spent over six years producing wines through BC Wine Studio under the tutelage of an experienced winemaker, and studying viticulture and enology through Washington State University.

In 2019, the couple moved their family of 5 to Kaleden permanently to continue growing Black Market Wine Co. and take their dream of owning a boutique vineyard and winery to the next level.
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