One of the standout producers of Oregon Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Lingua Franca was founded by Larry Stone and David Honig. Earlier this year the winery was sold to Constellation Brands and this will be an exciting development for the future. At the helm is Thomas Savre who is one of the state’s finest winemakers. As this winery expands it will be very interesting to see how these wines develop. Savre crafts very age worthy wines that show good richness and tension. I’ve had the chance to taste some older wines and have been really impressed with their aging potential.
The new wines come from the very challenging 2020 vintage — one where many producers opted not to produce Pinot Noir due to smoke issues at harvest. The wines that Savre produced might not be the most ageworthy on the Pinot Noir side but are a stunning accomplishment — some of the best Pinot Noirs that I have tasted from this vintage. I would drink these 2020 Pinot Noirs over the next five years.
Check out the gorgeous 2020 Lingua Franca ‘Sisters’ Chardonnay (OB, 93) which is vibrant with a seamless sense of mouthfeel. Just as good is the 2020 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Vineyard’ Pinot Noir (OB, 93) which is rich and viscous with great range. Learn more about Lingua Franca at https://www.linguafranca.wine Here are the beautiful new releases by Lingua Franca.
2021 Lingua Franca Rose- Made from Pinot Noir grapes sourced in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, this fantastic new Rose offers kiwi, starfruit and wet stone with salty undertone on the palate. With more air this becomes more and more complex. Finishing long and beautifully textured, enjoy over the next six plus years. Drink 2022-2028- 92
2020 Lingua Franca ‘Chers Amis’ Chardonnay- The really good ‘Chers Amis’ was sourced from a selection of Clone 548 Chardonnay grown at the Lingua Franca Estate. This offers wet stone, white peach and starfruit tones aromatically, with shades of sourdough bread.
The palate is generous and round with plenty of tension and salty undertones. Complex and delicious to consume now, enjoy over the next ten plus years. Drink 2022-2032- 93
2020 Lingua Franca ‘Sisters’ Chardonnay- The wine is named after Larry Stone’s mother and aunt who both grew up on a farm and vineyard and remained close throughout their 90 years of life. Very flinty tones combine with ripe pear and shades of toasted French bread on the nose. The palate is lithe and polished with gobs of finesse and lovely Meyer lemon rind, baking spice dusted Challah bread and salty undertones. The terroir here is seriously good, as this beautiful wine is shining brightly now and will live on for another decade. Drink 2022-2032- 93
2020 Lingua Franca ‘Inspiras’ Chardonnay- Coming from a neighboring vineyard of the Lingua Franca Estate, the 2020 Lingua Franca ‘Inspiras’ is a barrel selection wine in which nearly two thirds of their crop was removed. The 2020 Chardonnay delivers toasty oak with banana, marzipan and suggestions of white cherry on the nose. The palate shows good viscosity and richness, reveling in wonderful veil of tension and stony accents. The very lengthy finish complete this beautiful wine that is only now starting to come into its own. Give this a one hour decant if enjoying now. Drink 2022-2035- 94
2020 Lingua Franca ‘Novo Vino’ Pinot Noir- The bright 2020 Lingua Franca ‘Novo Vino’ Pinot Noir shows crunchy pomegranate and cranberry flavors with menthol and stony undertones. Nicely textured, enjoy over the next several years. Drink 2022-2029- 91
2020 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Pinot Noir- Very complex and delicious to consume right now, the 2020 Lingua Franca ‘Lingua Franca Estate’ Pinot Noir is one of the finest Pinot Noir wines that I have tasted from this vintage. Beautifully textured, this shows wonderful smoldering stone tones alongside ripe Yakima cherry, orange blossom water, guava and cinnamon sticks. Round and generous, with a seamless mouthfeel, this is gorgeous wine to consume now and over the next five to seven years — no reason to wait on this beauty. Drink 2022-2030- 93