Lingua Franca Tongue'n Cheek Pinot Noir Eola

Wine Enthusiast

93 / 100
Wine Advocate

92 / 100

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

CountryUSA
RegionOregon
AppellationEola - Amity Hills AVA
Varieties
- Pinot Noir - 100%
Wine style
- Fruity red with velvety tannins
BrandLingua Franca
Volume0,75 L
Alc.13%

92,00 €

Description

Aromatic, well-structured wine with irresistible minerality was produced from Pinot Noir from a low-yielding vineyard, one of the oldest in Oregon. It has stony soil and is located on the eastern slope directly above the city of Hopewell. After sorting on the vibrating table, the fruit was fermented in steel tanks. After fermentation, the wine was aged in new (20%) and old French oak barriques for 14 months.

Serving recommendations

Serve at 16-18 °C with pan-roasted duck breast, filet mignon and hard cow’s milk cheeses like 18-month aged Gouda, Comte, Cantal, Parmesan.

Rating

92 / 100

Wine Advocate

Medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Tongue 'N Cheek is scented of dark cherries and earth with loads of spicy accents. The palate is medium-bodied and super silky with powerful fruit and a wonderfully appealing, juicy finish.

93 / 100

Wine Enthusiast

A mix of Pommard and Calera clones, this is a blend that attempts to forge a common ground between sweetly spicy pie-cherry fruit and the more herbal, tannic, austere nature of the Calera fruit. All the parts are there to build a complete and interesting wine. Just add some bottle age—another two or three years at least. PAUL GREGUTT

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.