Walter Scott X Novo Vineyard Chardonnay 2023 750ml

Product Info

96pts Vinous Media
The 2023 Chardonnay X Novo Vineyard opens with sweet white smoke nuanced by rosemary, green apples and dusty stone as it slowly blossoms in the glass. Pleasantly forward in style, it sweeps across the palate with elegant waves of ripe orchard fruit while a tinge of flint adds balance toward the close. The finish is dramatically long, laden with a citrus concentration that slowly delves into a sensation of liquid sage. Drinking Window: 2026 - 2034

Tasting the 2023s at Walter Scott was the highlight of a long day of tasting. Winemaker Ken Pahlow leaned into the racy nature of the vintage and worked diligently to make sure that the wines would express an undeniable sense of place. The lineup shows more immediacy in this vintage while maintaining crisp acidity and balanced structure—quite a compelling mix. Pahlow practiced a minimal amount of fining with the 2023s, and in general, he began bottling the Pinot Noirs about three months earlier than in the past. The red wines here have seen a marked improvement over the last few years, as this has always been an estate that set benchmarks with Chardonnay. And yes, the 2023 Chardonnays are simply fantastic. There’s certainly a deeper level of fruit intensity, but their overall balance is remarkable. This lineup exemplifies how, broadly, Chardonnay excels over Pinot Noir in 2023. Of note, 2023 was the last vintage where Pahlow had access to fruit from the Justice and Temperance Hill Vineyards. As sad as that is, this lineup is simply an embarrassment of riches. I continue to be thoroughly impressed by this project. - By Eric Guido on July 2025

Terroir
The X Novo Vineyard, located in the Eola‑Amity Hills AVA of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, lies in Spring Valley on the edge of Holmes Gap where cool Pacific winds sweep through the hills. The site rests on exceptionally rocky Gelderman clay soils, planted at high density (~3,000 vines per acre) and integrates around 20 different clones of Chardonnay within its steep, east-facing slopes. This combination of elevation, clay-rich volcanic soils and constant air-flow results in grapes that achieve ripeness with retained acidity and mineral intensity, a terroir-driven foundation for this wine.

Winemaking & Technical Notes
The 2022 vintage is 100% Chardonnay from this single vineyard block. It was fermented in French oak puncheons (350 & 500 L) with approximately 80% new oak and then aged sur-lie for 12 months before bottling. The resulting alcohol is 13%. The winery employs ambient (wild) yeast fermentation with minimal lees-stirring to preserve purity, texture and site expression. The limited production (425 cases for the 2022 vintage as noted) underscores its premium status.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, this Chardonnay shines with a luminous straw-gold hue. On the nose, expect aromatics of pear skin, yellow apple, and casaba melon, layered with white florals, orange blossom and a strong mineral edge — think flint or crushed wet stone. On the palate the wine is medium-to-full bodied yet remarkably balanced: flavours of candied Meyer lemon, lemon curd, ripe Mirabelle plum, and hints of lemongrass emerge, framed by chalky tannins and a saline under-note that carries toward the finish. A distinctly mouth-watering mineral and flinty streak gives the wine tension and length — reviewers describe a “salty, mouth-watering finish” that lingers elegantly. This is a Chardonnay with both precision and depth, offering both immediate appeal and serious ageing potential (2024-2045+).

Food Pairing & Service
Serve chilled to around 10-12 °C (50-54 °F), using a white-wine glass that allows the aromatics room to breathe. If the wine has recently arrived from cold storage, allow it to warm slightly in the glass for a few minutes to open fully. Pair this Chardonnay with elegant seafood dishes such as poached halibut in beurre blanc, seared scallops with lemon-herb butter, or even white truffle risotto. Its bright acidity and mineral core also make it a fine companion to soft-rind cheeses (double-cream Brie, young Comté) or goat-cheese crostini with a drizzle of honey. On the richer side, try it with roast chicken with thyme and lemon-zest, or herb-crusted pork tenderloin where the wine’s texture and length can complement the dish without overpowering.