A little over a year ago I was approached by Chris Mazepink, former winemaker at Archery Summit. “I have a new project I want you to check out,” he said as my ears perked up. For years I had admired Chris’s unabashedly bold style of Dundee Hills Pinot Noir that brilliantly combined terroir and tension. I had many great visits to Archery Summit over the years — surely this would be an exciting new project!
Chris purchased land in the Dundee Hills back in 2013 with an intent to make world class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Chris sensed the potential of the property as it is located adjacent to the vineyards of legendary Oregon wineries Domaine Drouhin and Archery Summit. Chris and his sons, Archer and Charles, cleared the land, by hand, in the summer of 2014 and then planted it to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in 2015 and 2016. They preserved the remaining walnut trees on the property that continue to produce fruit and are now well over 70 years old, standing stoic amongst the vines.
I was the first wine critic to taste his new wines from the 2018 vintage which were glorious. His 2019 wines show slightly more minerality and slightly less weight than the ‘18s. They are every bit as good. Check out the delightful 2019 White Walnut 'Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay (OB, 92) delivers really good range and a silky mouthfeel. Even better is the sensational 2019 White Walnut ‘Worden Hill’ Chardonnay (OB, 94) which is more dense and intense, showing brilliant tension. Learn more about this outstanding new winery at https://www.whitewalnutestate.com Here are the great new wines by White Walnut.
2019 White Walnut ‘Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay- This limited production estate vineyard Chardonnay opens with pretty white flowers alongside orange blossom, hazelnut and green apple tones. The palate is silky and elegant with a seamless sense of mouthfeel and gorgeous length. Great to enjoy now, this outstanding Chardonnay will cellar well for at least another decade. Drink 2021-2031- 92
2019 White Walnut ‘Estate North Blocks’ Chardonnay- The 2019 White Walnut ‘Estate North Blocks’ weighs in at a mere 12.7% alcohol. Soft and approachable once on the mouth, this unveils Meyer lemon zest alongside white peach, wet stone and suggestions of baking spice laced sourdough bread on the palate. Finishing exceedingly long, this is beautifully evolved wine that has a long way to go in the cellar. Drink 2021-2033- 94
2019 White Walnut ‘Worden Hill Rd.’ Chardonnay- The 2019 ‘Worden Hill Rd.’ Chardonnay is a gorgeous bottling by Chris Mazepink. The nose takes on really good aromatic range from roasted pineapple to Macadamia nut and suggestions of roasted peanuts. The weight is gorgeous as is the exceedingly long finish. Really good to savor right now with its salty and nutty undertones this exceptional bottling will cellar well for another fifteen years. Drink 2021-2036- 94