Lingua Franca Estate Chardonnay 2023

Drink it now or cellar for up to 10 years. No need to decant. Founded in 2012 by Larry Stone, a renowned American sommelier, Lingua Franca Winery is located in the Eola-Amity Hills of the Willamette Valley, Oregon. Here, the volcanic rock soils and the unique microclimate influenced by the Pacific Ocean favor quality viticulture. Today, Larry Stone is joined in his work by Dominique Lafon and Thomas Savre, and together they produce excellent premium wines according to the principles of organic and biodynamic farming. The Chardonnay grapes come mostly from plots planted by Larry Stone in 2012 and from two additional blocks. After hand-selecting and harvesting the fruit, 80% of the harvest is whole-cluster pressed, and fermentation occurs spontaneously in barrels. The finished wine then ages for 11 months on the lees before being blended and aged for another 5 months on the lees in a tank. The result is a lively and brilliant wine that reveals notes of green apple, jasmine, gardenia, lemon custard, and grapefruit zest on the nose. On the palate, it is rounded and velvety, with a creamy texture and a fresh character. It has a well-balanced acidity and a long, delicately saline finish, making it ideal for pairing with rich fish recipes such as halibut with mushrooms, roasted salmon, or lobster. It is also excellent with cheese-based pasta dishes such as Mac & Cheese or Four Cheese Pasta.