Lingua Franca Estate Chardonnay Eola

Decanter

96 / 100
Wine Speactator

93 / 100

The actual product may vary from the images shown on the website.

CountryUSA
RegionOregon
AppellationEola - Amity Hills AVA
Varieties
- Chardonnay - 100%
Wine style
- Full-bodied, oak-aged white
BrandLingua Franca
Volume0,75 L
Alc.13%

68,00 €

Description

The 2018 Lingua Franca Estate Chardonnay aroma is a combination of creamy lemon custard, grapefruit zest, jasmine and vanilla. While it has the richest aroma and texture of all our Chardonnays, it is still lively and bright, lifted by its underlying energy. It is an excellent expression of our vineyard and has already demonstrated the ability to age beautifully.

Serving recommendations

Serve at 12-14 °C with rich and subtle dishes, such as halibut with a chanterelle sauce, sablefish, turbot with a shellfish sauce

Rating

96 / 100

Decanter

Lovely, expressive notes of juicy grapefruit and ripe pear, toast and oak spice make an appearance but the cask ageing is very well integrated. The overall impression is of a consummate balance between richness and freshness, with another layer of firm underlying acidity too, and the wine lingers enticingly. As consultant Dominique Lafon notes: ‘Our better wines are not the bigger. Our selection is on refinement.

93 / 100

Wine Speactator

A wine that unfurls slowly with impressive results. Multilayered kiwi, green apple and stony mineral accents build structure and richness on a lingering finish. 1,000 cases made.

About brand

Lingua Franca is one of the most modern and highly regarded wineries in Oregon, located in the Willamette Valley, a region renowned for its cool-climate ‘Chardonnay’ and ‘Pinot Noir’. Founded in 2012 by legendary Master Sommelier Larry Stone, the estate quickly gained acclaim. After a long career in some of the world’s finest restaurants, Stone decided to realize his dream of creating wines that speak the language of terroir. He is supported in this project by one of Burgundy’s most respected winemakers, Dominique Lafon (Meursault), while the winemaking is overseen by Thomas Savre, who trained in Burgundy and worked with such iconic domaines as DRC and Domaine Dujac. The name “Lingua Franca” symbolically means a “common language” – the language of wine that connects people across the world.

Wine Style

Lingua Franca wines are known for their elegance, purity, minerality, and balance. The style is based on a philosophy of minimal intervention – fermentation is carried out only with native yeasts, aging on the lees (“sur lie”) brings length and texture, while French oak is used with restraint to enhance structure without overpowering the expression of terroir. These are wines that are enjoyable when young, yet also demonstrate excellent aging potential.

White wines (‘Chardonnay’): fresh, with pronounced minerality, precise acidity, notes of citrus, stone fruit, and subtle oak.
Red wines (‘Pinot Noir’): elegant and silky in texture, with rich red berry aromas, herbal and spicy nuances, and balanced tannins that provide longevity.

Prestigious Vineyards

Lingua Franca’s flagship site is the LSV Estate Vineyard, located on the southern slopes of Eola–Amity Hills. Its terroir is defined by:

Volcanic soils (Jory and Nekia), lending minerality.
A cool climate and Van Duzer winds, ensuring slow and even ripening.
Organic and biodynamic farming, certified by LIVE and Salmon Safe, ensuring sustainability and respect for nature.

Aging and Drinking Window

Lingua Franca wines are aged in high-quality French oak barrels, typically with only a small proportion of new oak, to preserve subtlety and finesse. Thanks to their structure and precision, these wines shine in their youth but also possess the ability to age gracefully for a decade or more, revealing even greater complexity over time.