Pale yellow-gold. Fresh honeydew melon, Meyer lemon, pear nectar, oyster shell and toasted brioche on the deeply perfumed, mineral-driven nose. Juicy and expressive on the palate, offering densely packed yet energetic citrus and orchard fruit and sweet butter flavors plus a nervy suggestion of gingery spices. Shows impressive energy and mineral drive on the strikingly long, focused finish, which features a suave floral quality and resonating smokiness. Like all of the Walter Scott Chardonnays, this wine is not at all about fruit, in the best sense. 40% new oak.

This full-bodied, sappy wine has the sort of sweet-tart appeal of a very fine Vouvray. Ripe lemon and grapefruit carry the citrus fruit, with nectarine filling out the palate. There's a delicate saltiness coming up in the lingering finish. As it breathes it opens nicely into a well-rounded wine with palate-coating richness.