98 Points Decanter
A stunning Chardonnay from the ‘ifkyk’ X Novo site in the Eola-Amity Hills. X Novo is intentionally diverse 15 clones of Pinot Noir and 20 clones of Chardonnay are intertwined and planted with serious density in this tiny site. Reductive chipped flint notes give way to Hawthorne, briny oyster shell elements, and lemon oil aromas. The palate is well composed—gorgeous layers of smoked citrus grilled ripe pineapple flesh, savoury, and thirst-slaking lemon verbena. A mineral spine looks down on it all. Simply gorgeous.
97 Points Jeb Dunnuck
The 2022 Chardonnay X Novo Vineyard pours a bright medium yellow-green hue, and in this vintage, it’s elegant and harmonious, with a ripe perfume of sweet flowers, lilac, candied lemon, and pristine ripe pear fruit. Medium-bodied, it fills out the palate with a more rounded feel and has a lovely texture, just a hint of citrus oils, a delicate almondine, clean feel, and a lovely, long finish with a pretty, delicately toasted feel. Its viscosity frames the wine beautifully, and I know there's high acidity, but it feels so appealing. Drink over the next 10-12 years. 410 cases were produced.
97 Points Wine Enthusiast
The steely X Novo is easily one of my favorite Willamette Valley Chardonnays. The 2022 is an aromatic treasure trove of buttered popcorn, lavender, sage, orange cake, lemons and the flinty scent of two rocks colliding to spark a flame. Palate-crunching acidity and flavors of iced lemon tea, lemon verbena, saline and white pepper seal the deal.
95+ Points Vinous
The 2022 Chardonnay X Novo Vineyard is rich, wafting up with a confectionary sweetness balanced by hints of crushed stone and peach sorbet. It’s silky and round with medium-bodied weight and vividly ripe orchard fruits, all guided by juicy acidity. The 2022 is weightier and more concentrated than expected, yet with an energy and mineral intensity to balance, leaving a salty flourish and silty tannins to linger on.
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.
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.
