It has been several years since I had done a full rundown of one of the great producers of Chardonnay in North America. I was blown away with the overall quality of the wines. Their ‘Willamette Valley’ bottling are amongst the best that I have had from any Oregon winery. Their story begins in 2008 with the leap of faith that Erica Landon and Ken Pahlow made following the recession, forming Walter Scott Wines. Many years in the making, the name Walter Scott honors two important men in Ken’s life: Walter, Ken's grandfather, was a flight engineer for Trans World Airlines and Scott, Ken's nephew who passed away young and reminded both Ken and Erica that life can be exceedingly short. Their first vintage was produced in 2009 at Patricia Green Cellars and in 2011, Walter Scott began making Chardonnay, which was met immediately with seriously good critical acclaim. The rest has been history.
The new lineup of Walter Scott Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were spectacular. An amazing value, their 2018 Walter Scott ‘Cuvee Anne’ Chardonnay (WWB, 92) has marvelous freshness and verve, showing off a silky texture. This has some marvelous cellaring potential. The best wine I tried was the simply thrilling 2018 Walter Scott ‘X Novo Vineyard’ Chardonnay (WWB, 95) which is up there with the best in Oregon. This thrilling joyride is marvelously structured and textured, with flinty tones reminiscent of a great cru Dauvissat Chablis (also recently tasted). One thing is certain — buy these gorgeous wines with confidence. Learn more at https://www.walterscottwine.com I bring you my tasting notes from the beautiful new lineup of Walter Scott wines.
2018 Walter Scott ‘Cuvee Anne’ Chardonnay- The ‘Cuvee Anne’ was aged in 350 and 500 liter oak barrels (40% new) for twelve months before bottling. Sourced from five separate Willamette Valley vineyard, this opens with lovely flinty tones that mingle with shades of nectarine rind and poached pear that all meld in the glass. The palate is beautifully textured with a bright sense of minerality that runs through the core of orchard fruits and lemon cream flavors. Seriously good right now, I can see the ‘Cuvee Anne’ cellaring well for a decade to come. Drink 2020-2030- 92
2018 Walter Scott ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Planted in 1981 by Dan and Helen Dusschee, the ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ is one of the older sites for Chardonnay in the Willamette Valley. The wine was aged in 40% new French oak for twelve months before bottling. A dusting of volcanic soil greets you immediately as layers of lemon zest and bright pear all come together aromatically in the glass. The palate has great freshness and verve with a silky texture and gobs of lip-smacking acidity. Bright lemon rind and unripe melon flavors connect with wet stone and wild mushroom accents. A complete wine, the 2018 ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Chardonnay will age gracefully for many years to come. Drink 2020-2033- 93
2018 Walter Scott ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Chardonnay- One of the iconic vineyards in Oregon, the ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ is located in the Eola-Amity hills and is set on Nekia clay. This wine was sourced from vines that are facing south which protects them from afternoon heat. Aged for twelve months in 40% new French oak, the ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Chardonnay shows a gratifying volcanic earth tone that combines with saline drenched pear and kumquat aromatics that all take shape in the glass. The palate has a Chablis-like minerality, with a vein of diatomaceous earth that runs through the core of green apple and lemon cream flavors. Refined and highly elegant, this is a sensational new Chardonnay that has some great aging potential. Drink 2020-2033- 94
2018 Walter Scott ‘X Novo Vineyard’ Chardonnay- The ‘X Novo Vineyard’ by Walter Scott is a scintillating new wine from this storied estate that is up there with the best in the state. This Eola-Amity Hills bottling opens with wonderful wet gravel and smoky tones that mingle with bright nectarine and pear aromatics that all take shape in the glass. The palate is flat out delicious, showing a dusting of diatomaceous earth, with serious length and tension that cuts through the core of the wine. Fresh, vibrant and marvelously earthy, this highly Burgundian effort will enjoy a long life in the cellar. Drink 2020-2035- 95
2018 Walter Scott ‘Cuvee Ruth’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Cuvee Ruth’ was sourced from four separate Willamette Valley vineyards and underwent 30% whole cluster fermentation. The nose evokes saline drenched red fruits alongside citrus zest and peat moss tones that all come together in the glass. The palate is forward and juicy with lovely tension and richness. Fantastic to enjoy in its youth, the 2018 ‘Cuvee Ruth’ will cellar well over the next seven to ten years. Drink 2020-2030- 92
2018 Walter Scott ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir is another impressive release from Walter Scott that underwent 25% whole cluster fermentation. Aged in small oak barrels for fifteen months (35% new French oak) this opens with shades of diatomaceous earth that mingle with the bright red fruits and volcanic earth that all take shape in the glass. The palate is very pretty, showing lively guava and strawberry flavors that mingle with shades of teaberry, damp earth and salted hazelnuts. With seriously good verve and range, this beautiful wine will enjoy a long life in the cellar — but is nearly impossible to put down in its bright, youthful state. Drink 2020-2033- 93
2018 Walter Scott ‘Justice Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- Planted by the Casteel family, the ‘Justice Vineyard’ is set on Nekia clay soils in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. The Pinot Noir saw 35% new French oak for fifteen months before bottling. The flinty tones entice not he nose as cran-pomegranate and blood orange zest combine with the earthy aromatic undertones of the wine. The silky texture is really awesome as generous red fruits dance with the blood orange, peat moss and volcanic earth tones on the palate. Sensational to enjoy right now, the 2018 ‘Justice Vineyard’ Pinot Noir will have a long life in the cellar. Drink 2020-2038- 94
2018 Walter Scott ‘X Novo Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘X Novo Vineyard’ is set in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, near the Seven Springs Vineyard, at 525 feet elevation. On the nose the Pinot Noir shows layers of bright red fruits that mingle with shades of cinnamon and clove, alongside flinty undertones on this complex nose. Showing a soft mouthfeel and seamless texture, layers of sour red fruits dance with minerals and the damp earth tones on the palate. Fresh, vibrant and full of life, this beautiful new wine will cellar well for a decade or more. Drink 2020-2033- 93
2018 Walter Scott ‘Sojeau Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- This vineyard was formerly known as the ‘Sojourner Vineyard’ and is located in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. The wine was aged for fifteen months in small French oak barrels (35% new) before being bottled. On the nose this takes on flinty and smoky undertones that meld with bright red fruits and a light dusting of sanity on this enticing nose. The palate has great freshness, verve and energy, as the mouth-watering acidity really impresses. Silky smooth on the attack, the wine shows layers of tart red fruits with suggestions of black truffle crudo and peat moss, with lighter saline drenched orange rind flavors. Seriously good in its youth, this beautiful new Pinot Nour will enjoy a long life in the cellar. Drink 2020-2038- 94
2018 Walter Scott ‘Sequitur Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Sequitur Vineyard’ was planted by Mike Etzel and Carey Critchlow, as this 12 acre site is set on Marine sedimentary soils. The wine slowly unveils aromatics of blood orange zest that is woven together with wild mushroom and bright cranberry that all come together in the glass. The palate is fresh and vibrant, with a silky texture. Juicy red fruits dance with minerals and a silky texture on the palate. Seriously good in its youth, this beautiful wine will cellar well for another decade or more. Drink 2020-2033- 93
2018 Walter Scott ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir-The 2017 ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir by Walter Scott is a thrilling new wine that has a long life to live. Located in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, the ‘Temperance Hill Vineyard’ is set at 850 feet, as Walter Scott sourced from the North Block which is a wind swept site that prices very small berries. Silty tones combine with saline drenched orange rind and bright red fruits on this evocative nose. The palate is beautifully balanced, with a lovely beam of salinity that runs through the core of the wine. The mouth-watering acidity is absolutely gorgeous. Bright pomegranate seed and orange zest combine with the wild mushroom and damp earth tones of the wine. Absolutely sensational in its youth, this downright sexy wine will provide drinking enjoyment for decades to come. Drink 2020-2038- 94
2018 Walter Scott ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- One of the famed vineyards in the Willamette Valley, the ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ is set on volcanic soils, as Walter Scott sourced from Block B which is a bled of four Dijon clones of Pinot Noir. On the nose this slowly unveils layers of damp earth that combine with wild blackberry and suggestions of huckleberry and salted hazelnut that combine in the glass. The freshness, verve and texture of the wine all excite the senses. A bright salinity combines with the layers of red and dark fruits, with citrus rind and white truffle undertones. A complete wine, the 2018 ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir will have a long life ahead of it but is nearly impossible to resist in its youth. Drink 2020-2038- 94