That’s great, Ken.
First vintage that we had all 2.0 acres. Prior to 2016 we shared the block with two other producers. This was the vintage I felt we could really ‘see’ the potential of this epic site. Also 2016 was killer vintage. Early for sure and warm, but relatively low yields naturally and lightning acidity in the whites. Craig has since planted more Chardonnay on the adjacent property which is also X Novo. Look for one soon from Morgen Long. But, we have the original 2.0 acres of chardonnay and 1.3 of pinot noir.
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I can honestly say that we try to improve and raise our standards every vintage. We owe it to all of you who support us, our growers, our team and our family. We are also pretty blessed with an incredible region to grow Chardonnay & Pinot Noir.
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I believe some folks with overly full cellars. Just a guess.
Great to see you on here, Ken. Just got my Wolfpack shipment in last week. The wines continue to delight year after year - the quality is exceptionally high. I’ve pulled back on most wine clubs, but this is one that hits everything I’m looking for in both the wine and the producer. Thank you.
I’m planning an Oregon vs Burgundy blind face-off for the reds this year, and there’s no question that a Walter Scott SVD will make an appearance in the lineup 
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Thank you for the kind words! It was such a treat and very much fun to get to try to eliminate as many variables as possible. The Vojtilla was 2012 (it was from the WB auction lot) but not sure why CellarTracker picked up that 2014 picture (that was a picture linked from the site). It makes sense that the 2012 was under traditional cork - the consistency of the cork definitely felt different from the other bottles.
To your point, other than just the comparisons with Burgundy, was really fascinating to see the change in the wines through time, and what you mentioned about 2019 tracks with how it felt that there was increased density/concentration as we tasted the younger vintages. Looking forward to doing more of these tastings especially with recent vintages and I imagine it will be even trickier!
Anyone else going to the Meatstuff summer BBQ on July 25th? We’ll be there, would be fun to meet up with other berserkers 
(also, love was Zeph is doing with Meatsuff!)
- 2018 Walter Scott Chardonnay Cuvée Anne - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (5/9/2026)
We’re supposed to covet single vineyard wines vs. that of a blended Cuvée, right? Well, the other single vineyard WS Chards take note - the 18 CA was absolutely on fire last night! Hyperbole aside, and I know the 18’s were a strong year across the board here for chard - this wine was a real seductress. Sporting an at pinnacle balance of rich, smoky hazelnuts, a touch of matchstick, and a really nice closing note of fresh squeezed tangerine. Acidity is perfectly balanced, and just a joy.
Posted from CellarTracker
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I literally popped the 2014 version of this a minute ago. We’ll be having it as part of a Reno Beserker offline later today.
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The cuvée anne is sneaky good for sure.
I do often find that the “middle cuvée” between the appellation bottling and the svds is a value point for a lot of producers. Single vineyards are great and all but blending is a powerful tool…
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So very well said Justin!
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2022 Sojeau Chardonnay
Outstanding, I just love these wines. On the nose there is significant reduction in the house steel/popcorn/sesame style, plus some brulee pineapple, licorice, and flowers. On the palate the wine is fairly weighty, with a strong acid backbone; the texture is silky with some gloss from the tasteful oak treatment (which shows more textural than flavor-wise to me). The flavors run to lemon, tangerine, underripe pineapple, and there is some salty character.
Very nice, though not one of the top W-S bottlings for me.
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We drank the 2019 CA last night with rockfish. Your note about the 2018 could be for the 2019 except for the lime in the finish of the 2019.
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I try and let these age a bit, but curiosity got the better of me. I opened this yesterday - excellent on day one, but fruit clearly showing over the more earthy qualities. Day two - just stunning. The balance is ideal, with maximum complexity. Fruit and savory elements both coming together to create a wonderful wine where everything just feels right, can’t think of any other way to say it. This is one of those bottles that disappears so quickly you can’t barely realize it. There’s still plenty of structure here to allow this wine to enjoy a long life ahead too. Ken has really taken the Pinot to a whole new level these past few years, and I’ll be picking up more of these in future shipments.
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Anyone drink 17 x-novo lately?
I seem to recall opening a 2017 and 2018 WS X Novo Chard before my annual Oregon trip last August. There should be evidence upthread. Or maybe that was 2 years ago.
I pulled a bottle of the 2017 Goodfellow Richard’s Cuvée a few weeks ago and it’s been sitting on my counter. Perhaps I should grab a 2017 WS X Novo for comparison.
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Some friends hosted an Oregon Chardonnay tasting at the Cork Vault a few weeks ago. I think that I posted a photo in the other thread, but we enjoyed the first vintage 2013 and 2021 WS X Novo Chards.
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I have a single bottle that I keep meaning to open, I’ll make sure I post a note when I do.
Just opened a 2017 Justice Chardonnay - I’ve loved past WS bottles but this was just a bit sharp and astringent without the fruit or body to balance it out. Good reduction and acidity (which I like) but not much else. Has anyone else had this experience with this bottle?
No detailed notes as this was at a raucous dinner with one of our summer clerks, but 2023 Cuvée Anne was excellent last night, still quite young and maybe a bit coiled but pulsing with energy. Served next to, and for my palate absolutely dominated, a 2022 Dauvissat La Forest. The Dauvissat was very good just didn’t have the same concentration of flavor or cut. (I don’t buy much white burg but when I taste other people’s or get it at restaurants I sometimes find that even pretty good white burgs can lack a bit of acidity and mineral edge that my preferred OR producers deliver in spades. Not a universal thing of course, and at the end of the day the best white wines I’ve ever had are white burgs.)
I haven’t bought the Anne much but likely will going forward after a couple good experiences with the 22 and 23. The price point is just a little awkward where eh 20 bucks more you get the svd… but they perform pretty well!
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