Walter's World, Edition No. 1

Walter's World, Edition No. 1

released August 15, 2024

For this first release, the selections are intended to introduce you to our style. We look for wines from producers whose work we appreciate and who are making wines that are not only delicious, but made responsibly and with intention. Some of these wines we chose for funsies, like the gluggable Orange Crush, and some we chose because they showcase lesser known varieties and cuvees from stellar and well-renowned producers. We feel these are bangers - wines that just continually overdeliver for their price points, and we hope you enjoy drinking them as much as we do.
Cheers,
Chris (and Walter)

 

I | Livio Felluga Friulano

2019 | Friuli Colli Orientali, Northern Italy | 100% Friulano

 This wine is all about texture. Friulano has the amazing ability to be rich and broad on the palate without becoming too cloying. This balance comes not only from the elevated acid of this variety -in the right hands, of course- but also a slight bitterness from a short time macerating on its skins, like most orange wines. While we normally associate bitterness as an undesirable characteristic, in wine it can actually be a really good thing. It has the ability to balance out ripe fruit characteristics, alcohol, and residual sugar. Felluga coaxes ripe tree fruits glazed with a hint of barely-ripe tropical papaya and mango out of this grape, as well as undercurrents of fresh sweet herbs. Aged in stainless steel, this wine is all about varietal purity, making it a stellar introduction to Friulano. 
 

II | Walter Scott 'Cuvee Ruth'

2022 | Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon | 100% Pinot Noir

Ken & Erica are borderline famous in the wine world for their Chardonnay, made in a reductive -read flinty, taut, smoky even- style from their time training with Chardonnay legend Dominque Lafon. Lafon became a Burgundy icon from his deep experience in the hallowed sites of Meursault (and other famous Chardonnay villages).  While we also stock the Walter Scott Chardonnays in the shop, we chose to feature one of their Pinot Noirs because we feel these tend to fly under the radar and not get the credit they deserve. A blend of top sites in the Eola-Amity Hills, Cuvee Ruth employs just a touch of whole cluster to add aromatics and a dollop of savory undertones. 
 

III | Maxime Magnon 'Rozeta'  Corbières

2022 |  Languedoc-Roussillon, France |  40% Carignan, 30% Grenache, 30% Cinsault

A friend poured this for me about 6 months ago, and it blew my mind with its freshness and crystalline red fruit. The perfume pours out of the glass once decanted about 30 minutes, and this stems (pun intended) from the 100% whole cluster approach in the winery. Carignan, Grenache, and Cinsault are harvested and fermented together in a field-blend style and then barreled down to some nice but undisclosed cooperage from Chassagne-Montrachet. Sometimes it's who you know, you know? And you know me, so I'll make sure you get the good stuff. 😃 This wine is a great example of finding gems in lesser known appellations that punch way above their price point. 
 

IV | Limited Edition 'Orange Crush'

2022 | Yamhill-Carlton AVA, Willamette Valley, Oregon | Pinot Gris, Riesling, Muscat

The name of this wine is very apropos as it's shockingly easy to crush the full bottle with absolutely no effort, especially if it's sunny outside and one has a comfy patio and a good conversationalist. An unexpected blend of half Pinot Gris, 25% Riesling, and 25% Muscat... wait, muscat, you say? Why, yes I do! When was the last time you had one of those?!
Generally reserved for sweet wines, I think this grape adds the magic to this wine because it brings that citrus hit that makes this wine so drinkable and refreshing. While a lot of white varieties bring lemon or lime to the table, only a few will bring sweet citrus like clementine or tangelo. Riesling adds more of these similar tones and packs the acid in to make this a juicy little number perfect for summer days.
 

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THOUGHT + SNAG BOTTLES BELOW.

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Edition No. 1