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Walter Scott

Few American producers bring what Walter Scott brings to the table.  No American Chardonnay has blown us away like Walter Scott has, and in my just about 20 years of experience in the business, Last week we tried an aged bottle of 2017 Freedom Hill Chard, and I would put it toe to toe with any top tier Burgundy. I have never come across wines so electric, so cut, so powerful yet restrained, so mineral, flinty, citrusy, and oyster shell driven. It doesnt stop with Chardonnay either, as Erica & Ken have seemed to master the ever-so-fickle Pinot Noir variety as well. The scores for this release of their Pinot Noirs are exceptional. These are peers to the superstars of Burgundy-- both red and white.

We have a nice offering of their Aligote, Chardonnays, and Pinot Nor, all at heavily discounted pricing!
No American wines have captured our attention quite like the wines from Walter Scott in Oregon. American Chardonnay & Pinot 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 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 Burgundy. Ken's techniques are directly inspired by the masters he has learned from, and results are incredible.

Overt fruit is not the focus here, but rather minerality and harmonious texture. Crushed oyster shells and citrus is the name of the game in the Chards, 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, Jean Marc Roulot, Boisson Vadot, or Arnaud Ente, these are domestic wines that should be in your cellar.  

The Pinots at this address are just as important as the Chardonnays, and It's rare that we are able to offer the full lineup of them.  The scores for the Pinots are through the roof, and as much as we think of Walter Scott as Chardonnay masters, it is clear that Pinot Nor is also front and center here more than ever.  

Shipping and pickup are available, as always. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to respond to this email.

WInes arrive Wednesday, September 17th..

Wines are pre-discounted to some of the lowest in the country!

Info and scores can be viewed on our website when viewing each wine.
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