{"product_id":"walter-scott-cuvee-anne-chardonnay","title":"Walter Scott Cuvee Anne Chardonnay 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93 points Vinous Media\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDrinking window:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e2026\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e-\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e2034\u003cbr\u003eThe 2024 Chardonnay Cuvée Anne lifts from the glass with a vivid blend of crushed green apples, sweet basil, cardamom and dusty stone. It is more savory than expected, with plush textures and mineral-laced pit fruits on the palate. It leaves behind a citrusy concentration, neatly offset by a bump of juicy acidity as a salty flourish fades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eKen 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.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the Winemaker 2024 Vintage:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e100% Chardonnay grapes, SO2 Malolactic conversion: 100%\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e- Yeast: Ambient, minimal bâtonnage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e- Fining: Lightly filtered for clarity\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e- French Oak: Fermented and aged in 500 \u0026amp; 350-liter barrels for 12 months \u0026amp; finished for 4 months in stainless steel tank. 50% New Oak\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e- ABV: 13%\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003e- Residual Sugar: 0 g\/l\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"When we launched Walter Scott, it was fueled by our savings and a few small loans from family–most notably, a crucial contribution from Erica's mother, Elizabeth Anne McKinnon: an avid trout fisherwoman, mushroom forager, and quilter. Starting a winery from virtually nothing struck many as audacious, yet Erica’s mom shared our bold vision. This wine embodies the idea of taking big risks and following your dreams. Cuvée Anne salutes both Erica’s Mother, as well as our Erica Anne Landon, both of whom had wholehearted faith in the dream of Walter Scott. Our single vineyard wines give the vineyard a voice as we bottle a pure expression of terroir. Cuvée Anne allows us the opportunity to meticulously blend this wine to capture the precision and complexity of Chardonnay from the Eola-Amity Hills. 2023 Cuvée Anne Chardonnay is a barrel selection, embodying our distinctive vision of Willamette Valley Chardonnay through our lens of the Eola-Amity Hills.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Willamette Valley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44163636691078,"sku":"KS-WalterScott-CuveeAnneChard","price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0075\/0338\/0543\/files\/19cuveeAnnechardwalterscott_b7c3231a-de29-4d7b-b41d-d38939fa4d33.jpg?v=1763934314","url":"https:\/\/www.winesolutions.com\/products\/walter-scott-cuvee-anne-chardonnay","provider":"Wine Solutions","version":"1.0","type":"link"}