Lingua Franca, 'Avni' Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2021

Lingua Franca was co-founded by Larry Stone and Dominique Lafon in 2015, inspired by the exceptional vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills that Larry bought in 2012 and planted in 2013. Thomas Savre, who worked at some of the top domains in Burgundy, is responsible for overseeing the winemaking and farming. He is a master at capturing the character of each vineyard site with every vintage.

Winter was extremely cold, with a historic ice storm that left the region without power for two weeks. It remained cool and wet throughout early spring, but warmed up in time to have a major heat dome event at the end of June with record-breaking 116°F temperatures. The resiliency of our non- irrigatedsoils,havingfracturedbasaltasboth an insulator as well as source of stored water meant that our vines had almost no negative effect and remained verdant all the way through. The heat event reduced mildew pressure from a wet spring and the harvest proceeded with fruit in perfect balance and excellent, moderately cool conditions.

94 Points - Wine Spectator
Elegant yet dynamic, this multilayered red reveals detailed cherry and red plum flavors that are laced with savory forest floor and mineral flavors, which build intensity toward polished tannins.

94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
A ripe ruby hue, the 2021 Pinot Noir Avni has a pure and pristine character, with aromas of red cherry lozenge, fresh wild herbs, and red floral perfume. Medium-bodied and charming, with an elegant structure and gorgeous fresh fruit, it’s delicious out of the gate. Offering ripe tannins and a graceful feel, it’s all about purity and freshness with this wine. A terrific value, it could be a great lens into the style of this estate and is a textbook example of the wines of the Willamette Valley. 

92 Points - Vinous

91 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Strawberries drizzled in dark chocolate share the aromatic spotlight with violets, saline and earthy oregano. A balanced wine, with velvety tannins, chipper acidity and flavors of raspberries, rosemary and hazelnuts. A smooth, round and enjoyable mouthfeel seals the deal.