One of the premier Oregon producers of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, today we feature Lingua Franca as part of Oregon Wine Month. Lingua Franca begins with their estate vineyard, located between the Lone Star, Jerusalem Hills and Seven Springs vineyards. It is a truly sensational site. Larry Stone, MS, previously managed wine portfolios for Francis Ford Coppola as well as Augustin Huneeus before founding Lingua Franca with David Honig. After rigorous negotiations, the land for Lingua Franca was finally purchased in late 2012. We are all very glad that Larry did that.
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. At time that Lafon protégé, Thomas Savre, also came aboard as he had a wealth experience in some of the most illustrious wineries in Burgundy. Thomas served as assistant winemaker at Evening Land before being promoted as winemaker for Lingua Franca. Thomas is a delight to chat with and has an insanely good palate despite his youth.
He has just a spectacular new lineup of wines from 2018 which was another warm vintage in the Willamette Valley — one that saw some serious heat spikes at times but also massive diurnal shifts in the Willamette Valley. These are beautifully textured wines that have amazing poise when you consider the heat of the vintage. I have found them to be every bit as good as the 2017 releases — if not better! Don’t miss the 2017 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Chardonnay (WWB, 95) which is one of the best Oregon Chardonnays I have tasted over the past year. This wine tastes like a top notch Corton Charlemagne. The Pinot Noir releases were also awesome, none more so than the 2017 Lingua Franca ‘La Bellle’ Pinot Noir (WWB, 94) which has downright awesome range and amazing tension, with a seamless texture. Learn more about Lingua Franca at https://www.linguafranca.wine Here are the beautiful new releases by Lingua Franca.
2018 Lingua Franca ‘Avni’ Chardonnay- The ‘Avni’ Chardonnay is named after the stony terroir that is found in the volcanic earth soils of the Willamette Valley. The intense aromatics catch you off guard with lovely wet stone and damp earthy accents that meld with the core of melon and green apple aromatics that all combine in the glass. Fresh, forward and downright delightful to savor, the combination of texture and mentality really entices. Showing great length, tension and salinity, this beautiful wine is only an infant and will cellar well over the next ten years. Drink 2020-2030- 93
2018 Lingua Franca ‘Chers Amis’ Chardonnay- The ‘Chers Amis’ is sourced from two sites in the Willamette Valley that are set on volcanic soils. The smoky and Chablisesque, saline-driven aromatics really entice, bringing you back to the glass for more enjoyment. The freshness and elegance of the wine is truly awesome, as the wine moves with wet stone tones that combine with ripe pear, honeydew melon and Challah bread flavors that meld together on the palate. Finishing strong with minerals and lemon cream, the ‘Chers Amis’ is a beautiful, Burgundian bottling that has a long life ahead of it. Drink 2020-2035- 94
2018 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Chardonnay- The 2018 ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Chardonnay is a downright stunning new Chardonnay from this storied estate and superstar winemaker Thomas Sarve. The smoky and flinty tones really arouse the senses, as lighter poached pear and vanilla cream aromatics round out this expressive bouquet. The palate has a silky mouthfeel with massive length and intensity. This would pass for a top notch Corton Charlemagne as the vibrant minerality, light salinity and earthy undertones complete this exceptional new bottling. Fully expansive and a delight to savor right now, the 2018 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Chardonnay will have an exceedingly long life ahead of it. Try to resist this beautiful wine for another two years — if possible! Drink 2022-2040- 95
2018 Lingua Franca ‘Avni’ Pinot Noir- This Eola- Amity Hills bottling opens with a perfumed core of red and dark fruits with shades of peat moss and rose water that all take shape in the glass. The palate is plush, displaying a wonderfully bright sense of minerality that is woven together with a distinctly earthy core of black truffle crudo, peat moss and forest floor tones that combine with the wild blackberry and huckleberry flavors. Round and generous, with a silky mouthfeel, this beautiful wine will have another decade or more in the cellar. Drink 2020-2032- 92
2018 Lingua Franca ‘The Plow’ Pinot Noir- The 2018 Lingua Franca ‘The Plow’ Pinot Noir is another thrilling new bottling from this superstar team. Sourced from 1 & 2 in the Lingua Franca Vineyard, this is 100% clone 777 Pinot Noir. The earthy tones take you straight to Burgundy with shades of peat moss and forest floor that combine with wild mushroom, wild blackberry jam and citrus rind accents that all take shape in the glass. The palate shows off a silky mouthfeel and wonderful brightness, with a massive core of minerality. Sour red fruits are artfully woven together with blood orange zest, bulls blood and peat moss tones on the palate. The length and range here is seriously good. Fantastic to savor right now, the 2018 ‘The Plow’ will have a long life ahead of it. Give this another year or two before uncorking. Drink 2022-2040- 93
2018 Lingua Franca ‘La Belle’ Pinot Noir- A barrel select wine, the 2018 ‘La Belle’ is a scintillating new bottling by Lingua Franca. Needing a one hour decant to be fully aroused, the ‘La Belle’ takes the lead with wonderful earthy tones that combine with shades of black tea, kumquat, and black cherry compote that mingle in the glass. The palate has a seamless texture and is novel with its massive earthy character. Truly one of a kind, with a silky mouthfeel and plush texture, the outstanding ‘La Belle’ will cellar well for decades to come. Try to resist this beauty for another year or two. Drink 2022-2040- 94