Vivid straw-yellow. Incisive, mineral-accented citrus and orchard fruits on the assertively perfumed nose, along with hints of succulent flowers, oyster shell and buttered toast. Lush and creamy but focused as well, offering concentrated, mineral-driven pear, Meyer lemon and peach melba flavors and a touch of bitter quinine. Turns firmer on the sharply detailed, impressively long finish, which repeats the citrus and mineral notes and leaves a honeysuckle flourish behind. 40% new oak.

The aromatics are exceptional across the entire Walter Scott portfolio: here sending up citrus highlights leading to a luscious core of apple and peach, buoyed by juicy acidity. Some 40% of the oak was new, in 350 and 500 liter casks. There is little or no barrel toast, but an overall melding and strengthening of flavors, highlighted with elegant phenolics.

The 2018 Freedom Hill Chardonnay has delicate wafts of almonds, hay and apples on the nose with a streak of gunflint. The palate is light-bodied and silky, with seamless freshness and understated but layered flavors.