2023 Walter Scott - Pinot Noir Willamette Valley La Combe Verte (750ml)

Walter Scott Wines was founded in 2008 by husband and wife Ken Pahlow and Erica Landon, who emptied their retirement savings to launch the label from the Eola-Amity Hills. The name honors two important men in Ken's life, including his grandfather Walter, a TWA flight engineer known for turning dreams into reality. Their first vintage of La Combe Verte was made in a corner of Patricia Green Cellars' winery in exchange for harvest labor, with Ken later refining his craft alongside Dominique Lafon before the couple built their own label into one of Oregon's most respected small producers of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

La Combe Verte draws on fruit from several vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills, including Distraction, Sojeau, Temperance Hill, and Witness Tree, all grown on the area's volcanic clay and stony soils. The wine is fermented with ambient yeast, including a portion of whole clusters, then aged for about ten months in French oak, a quarter of it new, a process meant to preserve purity and a clear sense of place. The name itself translates loosely to the green valley, a nod to the lush landscape surrounding the winery.

This Pinot Noir opens with ripe red and black fruits, summer flowers, and warm earthy spice on the nose, echoed by wild berries, mushroom, and forest floor on the palate. Succulent tannins and juicy acidity give the wine both immediate appeal and real aging potential. It pairs beautifully with roast duck, mushroom risotto, or grilled salmon.