It is easy to look back fondly on our pre-covid moments. Sitting across from Thomas Savre, we both reveled in what crazy good bottle of Bollinger we were enjoying. Soft spoken, but highly passionate and fiercely competitive, Savre is a young Frenchman accomplishing far more than most of his peers. Savre is a special talent in Oregon, crafting some of the most compelling and novel terroir-driven Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines you will find in the state. One of the premier Oregon producers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Lingua Franca begins with their estate vineyard, located between the Lone Star, Jerusalem Hills and Seven Springs vineyards. It is a truly sensational site for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Larry Stone, MS, previously managed wine portfolios for Francis Ford Coppola as well as Augustin Huneeus before founding Lingua Franca with David Honig.
In late 2014, Dominique Lafon of Evening Land fame indicated that he would be interested in collaborating on the project and the team began work together in February of 2015. A Lafon protégé, Thomas Savre previously served as assistant winemaker at Evening Land before being chosen to be winemaker for Lingua Franca. Savre described 2018 in two words as “Subtle Power.” He continued “Unique, this vintage tested us in the vineyard and in the cellar. Exceptional weather led to concentrated and generous Pinot Noir but also precise delicate Chardonnay.”
2018 was a great vintage for Lingua Franca and I adored the 2018 Lingua Franca ‘Sisters’ Chardonnay (OB, 95) which is fresh and vibrant with an incredible texture. Just as good is the 2018 Lingua Franca ‘Mimi’s Mind’ Pinot Noir (OB, 95) which has insanely good range, beautiful astringency and novel character with its sour fruit profile and earthy terroir. This is just an infant now and has decades of life ahead of it. Learn more about Lingua Franca at https://www.linguafranca.wine Here are the beautiful new releases by Lingua Franca.
2018 Lingua Franca ‘Sisters’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Sisters’ Chardonnay is a sensational new wine by Lingua Franca. Named after Larry Stone’s mother and her sister, the 2018 ‘Sisters’ shows bright Challah bread and lemon zest tones that mingle with shades of wet stone on this fantastic bouquet. The texture is insanely good. Lemon oil infused sourdough bread and vanilla cream mingle with minerals and flinty undertones on the palate. Seamlessly textured, this finishes exceedingly long. Gratifying to enjoy in tis youth, this will provide drinking enjoyment for another ten to fifteen years. Drink 2020-2033- 95
2018 Lingua Franca ‘Tongue ’N Cheek’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Tongue ’N Cheek’ is another outstanding new release by the talented Thomas Savre. Once on the nose this takes on layers of wild blackberries and bramble tones that mingle with shades of teaberry and citrus rind on this complex bouquet. The palate is vibrant and fresh, with a silky texture. Layers of red currants, tilled soil, cigar ash and shades of Mandarin orange rind all come together seamlessly on the palate. Sensational to enjoy right now, this beautifully textured 2018 Pinot Noir will cellar well over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2020-2033- 93
2018 LIngua Franca ‘Mimi’s Mind’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Mimi’s Mind’ is sourced from the ‘Hope Well Vineyard’ in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, utilizing Dijon clone 667. The aromatic range is seriously good from white truffle shavings, teaberry and blood orange zest, to forest floor tones that all dazzle in the glass. The palate is seamless, effortlessly gliding throughout the drinking experience. Red currants and pomegranate seed flavors mingle with minerals, black cherry compote, peat moss and sour wild blackberry on this complex palate. The generous length and soft texture really entice, as this beautiful wine has a long way to go in the cellar. This is a broad-shouldered Oregon Pinot that needs an hour of air if enjoying at this stage. Drink 2020-2035- 95
2018 Lingua Franca ‘Petit Geant’ Pinot Noir- The ‘Petit Geant’ utilizes Block 8 Calera Pinot Noir clone, blended with Clone 115 from Block 9 in their estate vineyard. Aged in 20% new French oak barriques, this shows intense dark fruits that mingle with damp earth, pine needles and suggestions of chanterelle mushroom on this gratifying bouquet. The palate is sinfully good, showing incredible tension and a silky smooth texture. The gratifying length and deep core of dark fruits collide with minerals and orange rind accents, with shades of black truffle. Complex and utterly delicious to enjoy in its youth, this beautiful wine will cellar well over the next ten to fifteen years. Drink 2020-2035- 95
2018 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Pinot Noir is a gorgeous effort by the talented Thomas Savre. A dry-farmed site in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, set on Jory, Gelderman and Nekia soils, the wine shows complex cran-pomegranate and tilled earthy aromatics, mingling with smoky and flinty accents that all take shape in the glass. The palate is silky smooth and very elegant. Showing a great core of red and dark fruits, the silky mouthfeel and gratifying length really makes this shine. While not quite as dense as some of their other bottlings, the combination of finesse, tension and texture is nothing short of magical. Drink 2020-2035- 94