Crafted in a Burgundian style expressing "purity, minerality and depth of fruit" according to Eric Guido of Vinous, these top scoring 2022 selections from cult favorite Willamette Valley winery Walter Scott are not to be missed by fans of Oregon Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, a range of exceptional 2022's declared "wildly successful" by critic Guido and all boasting complexity built for a decade or more of evolution.
Founded by Erica Landon and Ken Pahlow in the Eola-Amity Hills, Walter Scott was named to honor Ken's late grandfather and nephew, producing its first vintage in 2009 at Patricia Green Cellars and moving the operation over to Evening Land Vineyards where Ken went to work in sales and in the cellar under the tutelage of Dominique Lafon. Now produced in a small winery leased from the Casteel family of Bethel Heights Winery, Walter Scott continues "to raise the bar across their portfolio" according to Jeb Dunnuck critic Audrey Frick, "producing exceptional wines with purity and balance" and sourcing their wines from some of region's top Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards. Produced from four vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills, the bright 94 pt. 2022 Walter Scott La Combe Verte Pinot Noir offers pure, earthy fruit "back by juicy acidity and silky tannins" according to the Wine Enthusiast's Michael Alberty, calling the entry level offering a "great buy." A cellar selection bridging the gap between the La Combe Verte and the single vineyard cuvees, the fresh and vibrant 94 pt. 2022 Walter Scott Cuvee Ruth Pinot Noir boasts "ripe wild berry fruits and juicy acidity" according to Eric Guido of Vinous, describing it as "wonderfully complex and refined, making it a fantastic value." From the iconic vineyard located in the new Mount Pisgah Polk County AVA, the dark fruited and intense 97 pt. 2022 Walter Scott Freedom Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir is "silky and fresh" according to the Wine Advocate's Erin Brooks with rich, velvety tannins on a palate that's "seamless yet powerful." Boasting "masses of ripe orchard fruits and salty minerals," Eric Guido of Vinous calls the 95 pt. 2022 Walter Scott Justice Vineyard Chardonnay "a beast of a wine" boasting a silky texture and substantial depth. The elegant 94 pt. 2022 Walter Scott Justice Vineyard Pinot Noir is "a wine of intense brilliance" according to Decanter's Clive Pursehouse with layers of velvety tannins that will "undoubtedly transform beautifully over time."
From their benchmark Chardonnays that are "easily some of the best examples I have tasted" according to critic Eric Guido to their "pretty amazing" Pinots, these 2022 Walter Scott selections are well priced for their loyal fans to stock up as well as lovers of Oregon wines looking to explore this exceptional portfolio – echoing Vinous critic Neal Martin who counts Walter Scott among his great discoveries, "If you have not tried these wines yet, do yourself a favor."
Showing an electric austerity, the Justice Vineyard sits exposed on a ridgeline in the Eola-Amity appellation, buffetted by the winds through the Van Duzer Corridor. Reductive and flinty aromatics with flashes of green mangoes, smashed chalk and grilled lemon. The palate is stony with a mineral spine that dictates terms to white nectarine flesh, fresh ginger root and a whack of salty sea air.
96 points, Clive Pursehouse, Decanter (May 2024)
The 2022 Chardonnay Justice Vineyard displays a bright yellow hue in the glass and has more lifted reduction on the nose, with savory notes of gunflint, bright citrus, radish, white pepper, and apple skin. It’s linear, persistent, and long on the palate, with a chalky texture and a long finish. Give it another year or two to flesh out, when its fruit will be bolstered a touch. Drink 2025-2035. 165 cases were produced.
95 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Aug 2024)
Invigorating acidity and a lithe and lean texture serve tangy Justice. The show begins with aromas of pear, marjoram and grilled lemons. A bright and refreshing palate showcases flavors of lemon zest, Ligurian olive oil and thyme. This crisp treat deserves a sunny day and copious amounts of fresh seafood.
95 points, Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast (Oct 2024)
The 2022 Chardonnay Justice Vineyard is intense, nearly smoky in the best possible way, with a burst of dusty florals, savory herbs and dried apricots. It’s salty and concentrated but silken in texture—almost weighty in feel. Masses of ripe orchard fruits and salty minerals add tremendous depth. It leaves the palate stained in primary concentration, tapering off structured and long with a saline tinge and hints of Asian pear that slowly fade. This is a beast of a wine.
94+ points, Eric Guido, Vinous (Aug 2024)
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