La Combe Verte is translated as “'the green fault or the green valley.” La Combe Verte pays homage to the lush landscapes of the Willamette Valley and Ken and Erica’s cherished friends at Patricia Green Cellars, where they crafted their first vintage of Walter Scott wines.

The 2023 La Combe Verte combines the elegant, volcanic soils of Eola-Amity with the marine sedimentary expression of Sequitur and Freedom Hill Vineyards. The glistening ruby appearance unravels scents of Mirabelle plums and sous-bois. This wine is defined by precision and elegance with elements of muddled tart cherries, pomegranate, rhubarb and dried cranberries encased in layers of mouthwatering acidity. Delicately ground stones fill in the sleek background giving this wine lift. This youthful wine has future potential, but it will need some additional aging for all the complexity to emerge.

By W Peter Hoyne