Lingua Franca Avni Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2022

94 Points, Wine Spectator – 94 Points, Decanter – 94 Points, James Suckling

It pulls you in immediately with it’s incredible vitality – all crushed red berries and fresh herbs. But it’s on the palate where the magic happens. The precision of the fruit, the layered spices, that gorgeous mineral backbone that screams of the volcanic soils – it’s everything you look for in world-class Pinot Noir.

I’m not the only one who’s noticed. Triple 94-point scores. Wine Spectator called it “Dynamic and precise”, Decanter praised its “precision and freshness”, and James Suckling pointed to its “years of cellaring potential”. All this in a wine that you can get for under $40/bottle – it’s nuts.

Original price was: $45.00.Current price is: $36.95.

Availability: In stock


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94 Points, Decanter

The Avni Pinot Noir delivers on precision and freshness all with a savoury lift. Sourced from both the Lingua Franca estates and a variety of neighboring Eola-Amity Hills vineyards, as well as those from south of the AVA and north to Yamhill-Carlton. It’s reflective of the volcanic soils that make the appellation perfectly paired with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Crushed stone minerality and a vibrant note of marine air float alongside spicy notes of blood orange. The palate is concentrated in its savory lift as dried lavender, smoky clove and sea salt lift notes of cherry flesh and a herbaceous kiss of raspberry leaf. A wine of great complexity at a very approachable price point.

94 Points, Wine Spectator

Dynamic and precise, with a core of steely acidity that frames expressive flavors of raspberry and guava. Laced with crushed stone, forest floor and dusky spice notes that gather tension and richness toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2033.

94 Points, James Suckling

“The nose is pure and focused, showing aromas of redcurrants, wild raspberries and orange rind. The palate is medium-bodied with finely integrated tannins and acidity, giving notes of cherry, potpourri, struck match and forest floor. Tightly wound with years of aging ahead. Drink or hold.”

Lingua Franca is a homerun partnership of two great wine minds in Oregon. It pairs together the eccentric Master Sommelier, Larry Stone with the renowned Burgundian winemaker and longtime man behind the curtain at Luis Jadot, Jacques Lardière. This collaboration was one of the first of its kind and brings together American passion and French precision in Oregon – a place dubbed by many to be America’s answer to Burgundy.

Larry Stone is a legendary figure in the American wine industry. As a Master Sommelier, he has deep knowledge and appreciation for wine. His vision for Lingua Franca was to create wines that truly express the unique terroir of the Willamette Valley and so he brought one of the best Pinot Noir winemakers he knew on board, the legend, Jacques Lardière.

Together, Stone and Lardière have created a winery that produces consistently high-quality wines, known for their balance, complexity, and distinctive character all at a relatively modest pricepoint compared to their peers. That’s how they’ve become such a star in the Willamette Valley, and enjoy such frequent appearances on end of year Top 100 lists from several wine publications.

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