"The team [at Lingua Franca] led by winemaker Thomas Savre is producing a portfolio of wines that show the power and complexity possible to obtain in Oregon." - Eric Guido,Vinous
Renowned for crafting top-scoring Burgundy for his family's Côte-de-Beaune estate, master winemaker Dominique Lafon worked as a consultant to Oregon's Evening Land Vineyards before collaborating with master sommelier and Evening Land general manager Larry Stone to co-found Lingua Franca in Willamette Valley's Eola-Amity Hills in 2015. Lafon's expertise at crafting exceptional Burgundy was credited with driving Evening Land's rising reputation early on. Purchasing the 140-acre Janzen Farm, a prime parcel situated next to Evening Land's Seven Springs site and adjacent to Domaine Serene's Jerusalem Hill Vineyard, Stone and Lafon then worked with renowned Willamette viticulturist Mimi Casteel to determine the precise mix of clones to plant based on the site's varied soils, utilizing organic and biodynamic viticulture throughout the estate's 66-acre vineyard and hiring Evening Land's former assistant winemaker and Lafon protege Thomas Savre to craft its vineyard-driven wines. Boasting experience at legendary Burgundy estates including Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, Domaine Dujac, and Maison Nicolas Potel, Savre employs a transparent, minimal-intervention approach in the cellar, resulting in wines that now boast an impressive track record of world-class quality and glowing acclaim from the critical press. The 2022 vintage continues this upward trajectory in spades, showing why Lingua Franca remains one of Oregon's most exciting producers.
From the Bunker Hill estate site in the south Salem Hills was planted in 1995 to some of the region's first Dijon clone Chardonnay. The brilliance of minerality and freshness is balanced wonderfully with a core of juicy citrus. Aromatics of dried chamomile, seaspray and lemon zest transition to a palate that holds juicy Meyer lemon pulp, tangerine rind and fresh-cut Granny Smith apples. Built for ageing, it is 67% whole cluster pressed, then barrel fermented for 11 months ageing on lees. It's a brilliant wine with serious precision and longevity.
95 points, Clive Pursehouse, Decanter (Aug 2024)
Estate bottled, the 2022 Chardonnay Bunker Hill is the counterpart to the Chardonnay Estate. It pours a bright pale yellow with a tinge of green and has a lovely incense of delicate toast lifting from the glass, followed by notes of white flowers, fresh green pear, and pleasing reduction. This wine comes from a site where the grapes get thicker skins from the wind, leading to firmer structure, and on the palate, this wine is medium to full-bodied, with a pithy, chalky texture. Drink 2024-2034.
94 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Aug 2024)
The 2022 Chardonnay Bunker Hill is dreamy, blending confectionary spices with chamomile and mint before giving way to freshly sliced nectarines and lime zest. This is supple and round with depths of ripe apple and pear, further intensified by brisk acidity as crunchy mineral tones slowly saturate. A saline tinge lingers along with sweet tannins as the mouth waters for more through the long and wickedly fresh finale.
93+ points, Eric Guido, Vinous (Aug 2024)
Steely and sleek, yet buoyed by a rich midpalate of Meyer lemon and apricot flavors, laced with stony minerality and spicy lee elements that speed along the snappy finish. Drink now through 2026. 634 cases made.
93 points, Tim Fish, Wine Spectator (Feb 2024)
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