The “entry level” wine at Walter Scott is probably the envy of many people’s flagship wines… it’s that good. ‘La Combe Verte’ meaning ‘the Green Valley’ is sourced from iconic vineyards, including Freedom Hill, Sojeau, Temperance Hill, and Witness Tree—all sites that are the crème de la crème of vineyards in the region. All the fruit is destemmed for a native fermentation, then aged for 10 months in 25% new French oak. The nose is a melange of crunchy red fruits, with darker cherry tinges, leaf litter, amaro-like alpine herbs, and a subtle gamey, savory note almost Northern Rhône–like. So much complexity for a relatively inexpensive wine.