Walter Scott - X Novo Vineyard Chardonnay 2021

Decanter Magazine

This a staggering example of Oregon's prowess when it comes to Chardonnay. Sophisticated, racy and electrifying, along with any other superlatives you care to throw at it. Aromas of crushed chalk and mid-summer petrichor give over to early-season stone fruit and green mango highlight the lean style Ken Pahlow embraces with his Chardonnays. There's an underlying reductive note of gunpowder along the way. The palate is finely etched. Filigreed notes of seafoam, bruised apple and lemongrass. This wine gives so much.

Jeb Dunnuck

I’ve always been a fan of this bottling, and the 2021 Chardonnay X Novo Vineyard exceeds all expectations. Pouring a bit more concentrated golden hue, it’s expressive already, although clearly not revealing its full spectrum. The aromatics have a signature stamp of flinty reductio and reveal layers of white peach, citrus blossoms, wild sweet herbs, and fresh pineapple. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with purity of fruit in its pristine and crystalline texture, with a hint of creaminess, fresh acidity, and a finish that lasts for days. Absolutely phenomenal, this is one of those wines that I imagine will have an incredible range in its drinking window. Drink 2024-2040.
Walter Scott was founded in 2008 by Erica Landon and her husband Ken Pahlow. Their first vintage was produced in 2009 out of Patricia Green Cellars, then at Evening Land, where Ken worked alongside Dominique Lafon. This clearly had an influence on the wines of Walter Scott, where they began producing Chardonnay in 2011. The next year they moved to their current winery space, which is located in front of the Justice Vineyard of the Eola-Amity Hills. They continue to raise the bar across their portfolio and are producing exceptional wines with purity and balance. The wines for this report were tasted at the winery with Ken and his family, and they do not disappoint in the slightest. These are no-question Burgundian-inspired wines, with a reductive style, though for my taste, they are some of the best wines pushing the bar higher and higher in the Eola-Amity Hills.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2021 Chardonnay X Novo Vineyard takes some time to give way from matchstick aromas to deeper tones of baked apples and quince, honey and brioche. The light-bodied palate is tense and citrusy with a grippy texture and a long, flinty finish. This wine really opened up a few days after popping the cork, so give it plenty of time in the bottle to unwind.

Wine & Spirits Magazine

Wine Enthusiast

If perfection exists, this wine has to be in the ballpark. It's young, enthusiastic and brisk, with soaring acidity and an electric mouthfeel. Peach and nectarine aromas dance with traces of gunflint, bay leaves and Stargazer lilies. Flavors of lemon sorbet, salted cashews and fresh avocado are deeply satisfying. Enjoy 2024-2033.

Vinous