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B-21 Top Recommendation
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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." |
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A stunning Chardonnay from the ‘ifkyk’ X Novo site in the Eola-Amity Hills. X Novo is intentionally diverse 15 clones of Pinot Noir and 20 clones of Chardonnay are intertwined and planted with serious density in this tiny site. Reductive chipped flint notes give way to Hawthorne, briny oyster shell elements, and lemon oil aromas. The palate is well composed—gorgeous layers of smoked citrus grilled ripe pineapple flesh, savoury, and thirst-slaking lemon verbena. A mineral spine looks down on it all. Simply gorgeous.
98 points, Clive Pursehouse, Decanter (May 2024)
The 2022 Chardonnay X Novo Vineyard pours a bright medium yellow-green hue, and in this vintage, it’s elegant and harmonious, with a ripe perfume of sweet flowers, lilac, candied lemon, and pristine ripe pear fruit. Medium-bodied, it fills out the palate with a more rounded feel and has a lovely texture, just a hint of citrus oils, a delicate almondine, clean feel, and a lovely, long finish with a pretty, delicately toasted feel. Its viscosity frames the wine beautifully, and I know there's high acidity, but it feels so appealing. Drink over the next 10-12 years. 410 cases were produced.
97 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Aug 2024)
The steely X Novo is easily one of my favorite Willamette Valley Chardonnays. The 2022 is an aromatic treasure trove of buttered popcorn, lavender, sage, orange cake, lemons and the flinty scent of two rocks colliding to spark a flame. Palate-crunching acidity and flavors of iced lemon tea, lemon verbena, saline and white pepper seal the deal.
97 points, Michael Alberty, Wine Enthusiast (Oct 2024)
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