97 Points Owen Bargreen
The deep and rich 2022 Walter Scott ‘X Novo Vineyard’ Pinot Noir comes from this famed site in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. This is wonderfully salty and flinty stuff on the mouth, with a seamless mouthfeel and great sense of underlying tension. Salty minerals and wet gravel combine with a generous core of black and red fruits, with enoki mushroom and fresh sage accents. Full-bodied and neatly textured, enjoy this glorious new wine now and over the next twenty plus years to come. Drink 2024-2044-
95 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Pinot Noir X Novo Vineyard comes from vines planted in volcanic soils in 2011. Matured in 50% new oak barrels for 15 months, it unfurls its perfume very slowly and is worth the wait: cranberry jelly, raspberry and strawberry jam, bergamot and lavender waft from the glass, and it continues its aromatic evolution as it airs. The palate is seamless yet powerful. Abundant, powdery tannins and juicy acidity frame its pure, nuanced flavors, and it has a very long, floral finish. It's drinking beautifully straight from the bottle, although it has what it needs for a long life in the cellar. 175 cases produced.
94 Points Wine Enthusiast
This is a nicely balanced wine that showcases crisp acidity and silky tannins. The X Novo's aromas are like a fresh-baked blueberry scone that's been laced with orange zest. The flavors are darker, with blackberries melding nicely with espresso shots and a touch of coriander. Try the X Novo with braised beef cheeks and a Charles Aznavour record.
Winemaker Notes
X Novo is comprised of just over 3.3 total acres of vineyard: 2 acres of Chardonnay and 1.3 acres of Pinot Noir. For being a tiny site, X Novo is one of the most unique vineyards in Oregon, if not the entire West Coast. Craig Williams is best known for his tenure at Joseph Phelps Vineyards in Napa Valley where he was responsible for innovative viticulture and winemaking. He garners tremendous respect throughout the international wine community. Under Craig’s direction, Joseph Phelps Vineyards has been awarded many exceptional accolades. In 2010 Craig and his family came to Oregon where they purchased land and began planting vineyards. They turned heads as they established two incredible east-facing sites in the Eola-Amity Hills and planted them with a notably diverse clonal selection of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
X Novo Pinot noir showcases the aromas of perfectly ripe black cherries and the seductive essence of wild lilacs. The palate reverberates cherry and adds vibrant elderberries and exotic spices, followed by lingering earthy notes of cinnamon, morel mushrooms, and sweet tobacco. Alluringly spicy and wild, X Novo’s generously lengthy finish showcases a juicy acidity and silky tannins while delivering an incredible texture that resonates with finesse.
