{"product_id":"walter-scott-freedom-hill-chardonnay","title":"Walter Scott Freedom Hill Chardonnay 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e96 points Vinous Media\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDrinking window:\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e2027\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e-\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e2036\u003cbr\u003eSpicy to the core, the 2024 Chardonnay Freedom Hill Vineyard blossoms with notes of curry leaf, freshly split pine, ginger shavings and sliced nectarine. It mixes elegant textures with decadently ripe pit fruit, perfectly supported by brisk acidity and a vividly salty core of minerality. Hints of sour citrus mingle with perfumed inner florals as the 2024 tapers off spicy and gently tannic. Frost naturally reduced yields in 2024, which seems to have added yet another dimension to this vintage of Freedom Hill.\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","brand":"Willamette Valley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44163429138566,"sku":"KS-WalterScott-FreedomChard","price":79.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0075\/0338\/0543\/files\/Freedomhillchardwalterscott_794f19af-44d4-458b-af69-2dfc17678106.jpg?v=1763934286","url":"https:\/\/www.winesolutions.com\/products\/walter-scott-freedom-hill-chardonnay","provider":"Wine Solutions","version":"1.0","type":"link"}