96 pts Vinous
Drinking Window 2026 - 2034
The 2023 Chardonnay X Novo Vineyard opens with sweet white smoke nuanced by rosemary, green apples and dusty stone as it slowly blossoms in the glass. Pleasantly forward in style, it sweeps across the palate with elegant waves of ripe orchard fruit while a tinge of flint adds balance toward the close. The finish is dramatically long, laden with a citrus concentration that slowly delves into a sensation of liquid sage. - By Eric Guido on July 2025

95 pts Wine Advocate
Drink Date: 2028 - 2040
The 2023 Chardonnay X Novo Vineyard comes from mixed clone vines planted in 2011 in volcanic soils. It was barrel-fermented and matured in 80% new, 350- and 500-liter French oak for 12 months, plus an additional three months in stainless steel. It has layered aromas of white orchard and stone fruit, almond cake, crème brûlée and flint. The medium-bodied palate is powerfully styled with highly concentrated, honeyed flavors and a luxuriously satiny texture. It’s balanced by fireworks of fresh acidity and has a long, spicy finish. It should be long lived in the cellar. 385 cases were made. Published: Nov 06, 2025

Vinous Media, Eric Guido on July 2025:
Tasting the 2023s at Walter Scott was the highlight of a long day of tasting. Winemaker Ken Pahlow leaned into the racy nature of the vintage and worked diligently to make sure that the wines would express an undeniable sense of place. The lineup shows more immediacy in this vintage while maintaining crisp acidity and balanced structure—quite a compelling mix. Pahlow practiced a minimal amount of fining with the 2023s, and in general, he began bottling the Pinot Noirs about three months earlier than in the past. The red wines here have seen a marked improvement over the last few years, as this has always been an estate that set benchmarks with Chardonnay. And yes, the 2023 Chardonnays are simply fantastic. There’s certainly a deeper level of fruit intensity, but their overall balance is remarkable. This lineup exemplifies how, broadly, Chardonnay excels over Pinot Noir in 2023. Of note, 2023 was the last vintage where Pahlow had access to fruit from the Justice and Temperance Hill Vineyards. As sad as that is, this lineup is simply an embarrassment of riches. I continue to be thoroughly impressed by this project.

Note from Vineyard:
In 2010, esteemed winemaker Craig Williams ventured to Oregon with his family and a bold vision for establishing vineyards of unparalleled quality. The Williams’ made a significant impact by cultivating two distinct sites in the Eola-Amity Hills, X Novo and X Omni.

X Novo stands out with a remarkably diverse 20 clones of Chardonnay, intricately woven and densely spaced within the 2-acre block. Situated in the coveted Spring Valley of the southern Eola-Amity, X Novo occupies the edge of the Holmes Gap, where the invigorating Van Duzer winds sweep through the undulating hills. This unique site reveals exceptionally rocky Gelderman clays, intensifying concentration of its wine. In 2021, an adjacent 20-acre plot of land consisting of existing older vines and cultivable land was acquired and integrated into the original site. Walter Scott sources the entirety of the original plantings, harvesting them at the same time and co-fermenting the block in order to show the complexity possible with this diverse crop.

X Novo Chardonnay is both exotic and compelling, offering an aromatic journey of golden rose, jasmine, citrus blossom, and caramelized Meyer lemon, seamlessly layered with the sharp edge of steely flint. The palate is a masterclass in balance and intensity, revealing vibrant notes of lemongrass, ripe Mirabelle plum, candied citrus, and the creamy allure of passionfruit curd. A mineral-driven backbone of wet stone adds depth, leading to a saline, irresistibly mouthwatering finish that lingers elegantly