“We are really excited what we see from 2020, especially our Chardonnay” Chris Mazepink exclaimed during our phone call yesterday. A really exciting new project out of Oregon, White Walnut is the brainchild of the former winemaker and general manager of Archery Summit, Chris Mazepink, who purchased land in the Dundee Hills back in 2013. 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.
A smaller site at less than seven planted acres, Chris sees incredible potential for Chardonnay in the Dundee Hills. “I think the wines that the critics actually like more is Chardonnay and I see that potential here” he explained.
I think the new wines he has crafted are really gorgeous across the board. Sensational for an entry level bottling, the 2018 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’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is dense and showing beautiful red and dark fruits with good freshness. Learn more about this outstanding new winery at https://www.whitewalnutestate.com Here are the great new wines by White Walnut.
2018 White Walnut ‘Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay- Golden once the glass, the 2018 ‘Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay shows a very soft texture with layers of buttercream and banana alongside Meyer lemon zest and melon tones on the palate. The combination of mouthfeel and tension here is really good. This shows considerable better warmed up, as the 2018 ‘Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay is best enjoyed over the next six to eight years. Drink 2021-2027- 92
2018 White Walnut ‘Worden Hill Road’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Worden Hill Road’ Chardonnay is a limited production bottling that opens with nice aromatic range from salted Macadamia nut to pear and citrus rind tones that all take shape in the glass. The palate is very refined and the rich mouthfeel really enhances the drinking experience. With great persistence and length, this outstanding new Chardonnay will cellar well over the next eight plus years. Drink 2021-2029- 93
2019 White Walnut ‘North Block’ Chardonnay- A light whiff of volcanic earth really entices here as layers of orchard and citrus. fruits combine with vanilla cream tones on the nose. A light dusting of salinity adds to the affair here with layers of buttercream and lemon zest mingle with baking spice infused Challah bread on the palate. This is seriously good stuff that has both the bright acidity and stuffing top cellar for another ten years. Drink 2021-2031- 93
2019 White Walnut ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir shows lovely range on the nose from volcanic earth to red currants and peat moss tones. The palate reveals a beautiful purity of red fruits, ranging from guava and strawberry to red cherry and pomegranate seed. The volcanic terroir here is simply outstanding, as this beautiful wine will cellar well over the next decade. Drink 2021-2031- 92
2019 White Walnut ‘Worden Hill Road’ Pinot Noir- The gorgeous 2019 ‘Worden Hill Road’ Pinot Noir shows off that great volcanic terroir with salted red fruit aromatics and pine needles that all mingle in the glass. The palate is big and downright voluptuous with its deep core of red and dark fruits with white truffle and forest floor undertones. Downright delicious to savor in its youth, this beautiful wine has a long road ahead of it. Drink 2021-2033- 93