2023 Walter Scott "Sojeau Vineyard" Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir

“Sojeau remains an under-the-radar Eola-Amity Hills vineyard, with great bottles coming from names like Walter Scott and Evesham Wood. Its brilliance lies in its balance, with dark violets and smoky clove spice melding with forest floor and rich, turned soils, as well as upright red fruits on the nose. The palate is silken, as cool blue fruits are buoyed by wild thyme and fresh mint with a finish of pine sap, and stony mineral purity. Delightful. (CP)” (06/2025)

“A bright red color, the 2023 Pinot Noir Sojeau Vineyard is deeper on the nose, with notes of incense, cherries, and spices. The palate is structured and has a light astringency, with zesty lift and spice lasting on the palate. It has a stony texture and is all about the mineral rather than the fruit. It’s long-lasting on the palate and is savory, snappy, and long, with mouthwatering saltiness and a stony feel. Drink 2026-2046. (AF)” (08/2025)

“The 2023 Sojeau Vineyard cuvée from Walter Scott includes ten percent whole clusters this year. It was raised in thirty-five percent new oak in this vintage and of course, bottled unfined and unfiltered. The cool microclimate of Sojeau, perched up on the top of the ridge in the face of the ocean winds that roll in through the Van Duzer Corridor make for a beautifully precise wine. The bouquet is deep, complex and offers up a lovely combination of red and black fruit in its mélange of black plums, red and black cherries, gamebird, complex soil tones, a nice touch of whole clusters, coffee bean, distant bonfire, a hint of the cola notes to come, peonies, lovely spice tones and cedar. On the palate the wine is pure, precise and full-bodied, with superb depth at the core, lovely soil transparency and grip, ripe, buried tannins, fine acids and impeccable balance on the long, focused and complex finish. Great juice! 94+” (07/2025)

“It is a tart and tangy start as aromas of cranberry and raspberry meld with floral notes of sweet pea and lavender. Sparkling acidity and muscular tannins then frame flavors of blackberry, red apple and a hint of anise. This beautifully balanced wine aged for 15 months in 228L French oak barrels, 35% of which were new. (MA)” (11/2025)

“The 2023 Pinot Noir Sojeau Vineyard blossoms in the glass with sweet violet and lavender tones that complement ripe blackberries as a hint of wet stone joins the fray. Balanced inner sweetness and vibrantly ripe wild berry fruits are guided by cooling acidity. The palate is gently tannic yet long. It finishes with floral persistence and a subtle licorice tinge. (EG)” (07/2025)

“The 2023 Pinot Noir Sojeau Vineyard blossoms in the glass with sweet violet and lavender tones that complement ripe blackberries as a hint of wet stone joins the fray. Balanced inner sweetness and vibrantly ripe wild berry fruits are guided by cooling acidity. The palate is gently tannic yet long. It finishes with floral persistence and a subtle licorice tinge. (EG)” (07/2025)