{"product_id":"walter-scott-x-novo-vineyard-aligote-2024","title":"Walter Scott X Novo Vineyard Aligote 2024","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93 points Vinous Media\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eDrinking window: 2026 - 2032\u003cbr\u003eThe 2024 Aligoté X Novo Vineyard wafts up with a lime-laced blend of white peaches, wildflowers and wet stones. This soothes with its soft, round textures as mineral-infused orchard fruits settle on the senses. A salty flourish lingers along with a lemony concentration as the 2024 leaves the senses salivating for more.\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\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93 points Audrey Frick (Jeb Dunnuck)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMaturity: 2026-2036\u003cbr\u003eThey've been making this wine since 2019 and have intentionally amplified its intensity while embracing a touch of reduction. The 2024 Aligote X Novo Vineyard is bright and packed with medium-bodied intensity, revealing notes of lemon rind, salty earth, green pear skin, and savory mineral tones. It has a lovely chalky texture and a long, mouthwatering finish. Drink over the coming 8-10 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"producer-note\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eWalter Scott was founded in 2008 by Erica Landon and her husband Ken Pahlow. Their first vintage was produced in 2009 out of Patricia Green Cellars, then at Evening Land, where Ken worked alongside Dominique Lafon. This clearly influenced the wines of Walter Scott, where they began producing Chardonnay in 2011. The following year they moved to their current winery space, which is located in front of the Justice Vineyard of the Eola-Amity Hills. They continue to raise the bar across their portfolio and are producing exceptional wines with purity and balance. The wines for this report were tasted at the winery in 2026.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Willamette Valley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67517977231494,"sku":"KS-WalterScott-XNovoAligote","price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0075\/0338\/0543\/files\/WSXNovoAligote.png?v=1790698669","url":"https:\/\/www.winesolutions.com\/products\/walter-scott-x-novo-vineyard-aligote-2024","provider":"Wine Solutions","version":"1.0","type":"link"}