2022 Walter Scott - Chardonnay Willamette Valley Freedom Hill

Walter Scott Wines was founded by Ken Pahlow and Erica Landon, who named the winery after two important men in Ken's life: his grandfather Walter, a flight engineer for Trans World Airlines, and his nephew Scott, who passed away young. The couple produced their first vintage in 2009 at Patricia Green Cellars before beginning their Chardonnay program in 2011, which quickly earned serious critical acclaim and helped establish their reputation in the Eola-Amity Hills.

Freedom Hill Vineyard was established in 1981 by Dan and Helen Dusschee, and their son Dustin now farms the site organically, continuing the family's meticulous approach. Walter Scott has sourced fruit from Freedom Hill since 2012, drawing on three blocks of Chardonnay planted to Dijon clones on well draining Bellpine loam soils across an ancient uplifted seabed. The 2022 vintage was fermented and aged in fifty percent new French oak for twelve months, then finished with three months in stainless steel, an approach meant to build texture while keeping the wine precise and mineral driven.

This Chardonnay offers a bouquet of lime zest, wet stone, and cardamom dusted French bread, with a palate carrying citrus and melon fruit and real tension. The texture is silky and well defined, finishing long and vibrant. It pairs well with grilled scallops, roast chicken, or a rich seafood risotto.