98 points Vinous Media
Drinking window: 2027 - 2038
The 2024 Chardonnay Koosah Vineyard sizzles in the glass as a whiff of reduction blows off, revealing depths of dried herbs, cardamom, sage, gravel dust and crushed nectarines. The palate opens with a pretty inner sweetness, quickly contrasted by mineral-soaked orchard fruits and a core of zesty acidity. This finishes with incredible length, loaded with tension, saline intensity and lingering green-apple concentration that puckers the cheeks. The Koosah Vineyard is on full display here.

Ken Pahlow of Walter Scott described 2024 as a year of reduced yields due to an April frost and a cold snap during flowering, followed by disease pressure, gentle ripening and a later harvest. He added, “Everyone knows I like low yields.” This lineup of Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays balances ripe fruit with minerality over a stern acidic core. Because the 2024s remain tightly wound, the entire range, including the whites, was decanted before this tasting. The reds show deft tannin management and should mature well. Pahlow commented, “I've been increasing the whole-cluster percentage, now around 30-60%. I'm also bottling Pinot Noir earlier to capture the freshness and crunchiness of the vintage.” These adjustments have worked well. Chardonnay has long been the strength of this house and remain the benchmark here, especially the single-vineyard bottlings from Koosah and X Novo. Pahlow added, “The 2024 whites have very low pH levels of 3.1 to 3.18.” These wines show crackling tension on the palate. Also of note, the red wines here have shown steady improvement over the past few years. Walter Scott remains one of the most consistent portfolios in the Willamette Valley.

From the Winery:
Crowned atop the windswept crest of the Eola-Amity Hills, Koosah Vineyard boasts awe-inspiring terrain, planted at the highest elevations in the AVA. This biodiverse 82.5-acre oasis dedicates only 44 acres of its steep slopes and rocky Witzel and Jory basalts to vines. Through deep-rooted connections with the land, ecologically complex plant life, and the application of holistic teas, Koosah Vineyard maintains a natural balance envisioned by founding farmer Kevin Chambers. This balance cultivates a thriving microbiome that minimizes disease and insect pressure while enhancing soil fertility. Walter Scott sources and co-ferments 5 clones of Chardonnay from these sheer, volcanic slopes.