No American wines have captured our attention quite like the Chardonnays from Walter Scott in Oregon. American Chardonnay is, of course, a stacked category, one with no shortage of great producers in it. But even in that crowded field, Walter Scott stands out. Put simply, these are some of the best wines being made in the country right now, offering terroir expression and ageworthiness rivaled only by white Burgundy.
It's no secret that the Willamette Valley is Pinot Noir country. Pinot is far and away the most planted variety in Oregon, and any other varieties are frankly an afterthought for many wineries. But slowly, quietly, there's been a change happening, and people are starting to realize Willamette is also an amazing terroir for Chardonnay. No one is making a stronger case for Oregon Chardonnay as the next great category than Ken Pahlow and Erica Landon at Walter Scott (named for family members of Ken).
Ken has been making wine in the Willamette Valley for over 20 years, starting with the famed St. Innocent winery in 1994. In 2008, he began his label, focusing primarily on Pinot Noir. While making his wine on the side, he took a job at Evening Land, where he had the opportunity to work under the legendary Dominique Lafon of Meursault. Lafon's influence is obvious in the wines: more than once we've been poured these wines blind and been so struck by their detail and precision that we were convinced we could only be drinking great white Burgundy. Ken's techniques are directly inspired by the Burgundian masters he has learned from on annual visits to the region, and results are incredible.
Like with Burgundy, and unlike so many other American Chardonnays, overt fruit is not the focus here, but rather minerality and harmonious texture. Crushed oyster shells and citrus is the name of the game, along with structure built for the long haul. This is American Chardonnay for the lover of white Burgundy, Chenin Blanc, and Champagne. If you love the wines of Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey, Boisson Vadot, or Arnaud Ente, these are domestic wines that should be in your cellar. It's rare that we are able to offer the full lineup of Chardonnays, and we have no doubt that these will soon be very tightly allocated (and more expensive), so stock up while you can.
Please note: This is a pre-order. The wines arrive in early August.
To order, please click here. Shipping and curbside pickup are available, as always. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to respond to this email or call us at (607) 319-0500.
Extra discount of 10% off any mixed 6 and 15% off of any mixed 12 bottles!
1) Walter Scott Chardonnay "La Combe Verte" 2018 750ml
Sale Price: $32.99/btl!! BUY NOW
6-Pack Discount Price: $29.69/btl!!
12-Pack Discount Price: $28.04/btl!!
The La Combe Verte is fermented with 100% ambient yeast and full malolactic conversion in large barrels with very little bâtonnage. The wine is lightly fined and filtered prior to bottling to brighten aromatics and give a polished finish. The result is an illuminating style of chardonnay, showcasing density and precision. The palate spotlights evolving layers of textures which follow the aromatic notes of lemon blossoms, with the finish offering a subtle mineral and saline character.
2) Walter Scott Chardonnay "Cuvée Anne" 2018 750ml
Sale Price: $44.99/btl!! BUY NOW
6-Pack Discount Price: $40.49/btl!!
12-Pack Discount Price: $38.25/btl!!
The Cuvée Anne Chardonnay is blended from Ken and Erica's best Chardonnay sites, including Freedom Hill, X Novo, Sojourner and Vojtilla Vineyards. It is a reserve blend that represents their vision of Willamette Valley Chardonnay. The juice was fermented with ambient yeast, minimal bâtonnage and aged in a mix of new and neutral 500 & 350 liter barrels for 12 months. The wine is finally racked and blended to stainless steel for an additional 3 months prior to bottling. This wine boasts clarity and precision, leading with supple aromas of Meyer lemon zest, green pear, and white peach, layered with floral notes of honeysuckle, lemon myrtle, orange blossom, and a hint of oyster shells. The palate is intricately fruity with freshness at the forefront, followed by a focused acidity.
3) Walter Scott Chardonnay "Freedom Hill" 2018 750ml
Sale Price: $62.99/btl!! BUY NOW
6-Pack Discount Price: $56.69/btl!!
12-Pack Discount Price: $53.45/btl!!
The Dusschee Family has been growing Chardonnay longer than most, putting lots of care into growing the best fruit possible since 1981. In 2012 Ken and Erica were lucky enough to start working with their fruit, getting access to one acre of Chardonnay. The wine is fermented with ambient yeast and minimal bâtonnage. It is aged in a new 500L puncheon, a once-filled puncheon and neutral puncheon for 12 months. The wine is racked and blended to stainless steel for an additional 3 months prior to bottling. Freedom Hill Chardonnay has delicate aromas of tangerine blossom, yellow peach, preserved lemon, and mirabelle plum layered with lemon thyme, wet stones, and yellow roses. The palate is a balance of density and elegance, with racy acidity and a long mineral finish.
4) Walter Scott Chardonnay "X Novo" 2018 750ml
Sale Price: $74.99/btl!! BUY NOW
6-Pack Discount Price: $67.49/btl!!
12-Pack Discount Price: $63.74/btl!!
In 2010 famed California Cabernet Winemaker, Craig Williams came to Oregon and purchased a few pieces of land and began planting vineyards. What he did would turn heads as he took an incredible site, facing east in the Eola-Amity Hills, and planted it to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. (But that's not what got people talking.) The clonal selection that he planted was the special part. The Chardonnay block that Ken and Erica work with is planted to fifteen different clones of Chardonnay. It is one of the most unique sites in Oregon, if not the West Coast. This wine is fermented with ambient yeast and minimal bâtonnage. It is aged in a mix of new and neutral 500 & 350 liter barrels for 12 months. The wine is racked and blended to stainless steel for an additional 3 months prior to bottling. This wine is exotic and striking, scented with jasmine, gardenia, lemon blossoms, white peach, and flint. The palate frames balance and concentration effortlessly showing notes of lemon drops, candied tangerine peel, fennel, and wet stones, and welcomes a salty, mouth-watering finish.
5) Walter Scott Chardonnay "Seven Springs" 2018 750ml
Sale Price: $74.99/btl!! BUY NOW
6-Pack Discount Price: $67.49/btl!!
12-Pack Discount Price: $63.74/btl!!
Widely considered one of the best vineyards in the Willamette Valley. Ken and Erica were honored to be selected to work with fruit from this famed vineyard, one of only a few wineries in the valley thanks to Rajat Parr of Evening Land Vineyards who believes in what they are doing. Seven Springs Chardonnay has intense aromatics leaning towards lemon curd, pineapple, slightly ripe strawberry, peach blossoms, and orange peel. The palate reveals acute concentration, with layers of white nectarine, lemon spritz and a sprinkle of salt. Seven Springs is densely textured with a long taught finish.
Extra discount of 10% off any mixed 6 and 15% off of any mixed 12 bottles!
Wines arrive the first week of August.
To order, please click here. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to respond to this email or call us at (607) 319-0500. |
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