Today we share the beautiful wines of White Walnut. Created by the former winemaker and general manager of Archery Summit, Chris Mazepink, he smartly 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. He sees the immense potential in making wines that all come from the Dundee Hills AVA. The wines were sensational across the board as we talked everything from Chris’s upcoming marathon run to international soccer.
The quality of his 2024 wines were extraordinary across the board. I adored the 2024 White Walnut ‘Worden Hill Road’ Chardonnay (OB, 96) which is wonderfully rocky and beautifully textured. Learn more about this outstanding new winery at https://www.whitewalnutestate.com Here are the great new wines by White Walnut.
2024 White Walnut ‘Dundee Hills’ Chardonnay- The 2024 ‘Dundee Hills’ was barrel fermented and no additives were added to the wine. Native yeast fermented, this did not see any battonage and was aged in barrel for one year before being moved to stainless steel before bottling. The nose is wonderfully reductive with great stony character. Lime zest and diatom fill the palate with amazing stony and flinty character. Drink 2026-2036- 94
2024 White Walnut ‘Worden Hill Road’ Chardonnay- The 2024 White Walnut ‘Worden Hill Road’ Chardonnay was stored in a small amount of new oak before bottling. Meyer lemon zest and shades of kiwi combine with great reductive, flinty nuances on the nose. The palate is marvelously salty and terroir-driven with a very Chablisesque flair. Stunning, and wonderfully stony, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years to come. Drink 2026-2041- 96
2024 White Walnut ‘Apple Field Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Planted in 2016 by winemaker Chris Mazepink, this offers powerful white florals on the nose alongside lemon rind and baking spice laced pastry crust. The palate is rich and mineral-laden with loads of finesse. Mainly citrus fruits dominating the palate, pushing mango character and loads of wet stone, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2026-2041- 96
2024 White Walnut ‘Terrarosa Vineyard’ Chardonnay- Owned by White Walnut, the 2024 White Walnut ‘Terrarosa Vineyard’ Chardonnay is the first crop off this vineyard which was originally planted to Pinot Noir and then grafted over. Diatom and salted lime combine with the flinty and stony character on the palate. Showing impressive weight, length and tons of tension, this is a stunning wine that has a long life in front of it. Only 12.5% alcohol! Drink 2026-2041- 96
2024 White Walnut ‘White Walnut Estate’ Chardonnay- The 2024 White Walnut ‘White Walnut Estate’ Chardonnay was stored in a small amount of new oak before bottling. Super reductive on the nose this takes on flinty tones alongside lemon blossom, white rose and suggestions of nectarine skin. The palate is rich and layered with terrific mouthfeel and lots of texture. Dense and chewy with amazing diatom character, this is drinking marvelously right now. Drink 2026-2041- 96
2024 White Walnut ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 White Walnut ‘Dundee Hills’ Pinot Noir offers tangerine zest alongside Bing cherry and shades of red licorice. The palate is loaded with tension and salty/stony minerals alongside its core of red and dark fruits. Drink 2026-2034- 93
2024 White Walnut ‘Worden Hill Road’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 White Walnut ‘Worden Hill Road’ Pinot Noir offers gunmetal and tart red fruits on the nose with orange blossom. The palate is nervy and shows amazing texture alongside orange fruit flavors and wild strawberry tones. Dense and delicious, with excellent nerve, enjoy now and over the next fifteen years. Drink 2026-2041- 96
2024 White Walnut ‘White Walnut Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 White Walnut ‘White Walnut Estate’ Pinot Noir offers beautiful red rose petals on the nose with bergamot and tangerine peel notes. The palate is lush and round with terrific texture and great stony character. Brimming with tension and texture, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years. Drink 2026-2041- 95
2024 White Walnut ‘Apple Field Vineyard’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 ‘Apple Field Vineyard’ Pinot Noir combines five different clonal selections. This is wonderfully reductive on the nose with its flinty tones alongside violets and shades of red currants. The palate is lithe with amazing tension and stony character. Gorgeous now, enjoy over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2026-2041- 96
2024 White Walnut ‘Terrarosa’ Pinot Noir- The 2024 White Walnut ‘Terrarosa’ Pinot Noir shows black and red florals on the nose alongside shades of red licorice and anise seed. The plate offers a beautiful melange of red and dark fruits with orange peel and salty/stony soils. Gorgeous now, watch this evolve over the next fifteen years. Drink 2026-2041- 95