LINGUA FRANCA Avni Pinot Noir - Willamette Valley 2023 Bottle

Description

Lingua Franca is the brainchild of Master Sommelier Larry Stone and celebrated winemaker Thomas Savre, who share a dedication to crafting terroir-driven wines in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Their Avni Pinot Noir is a brilliant introduction to the estate's signature style, blending fruit from their meticulously farmed vineyards with selections from neighbouring plots that share similar volcanic soils.

The 2023 vintage is beautifully bright, energetic, and highly aromatic. In the glass, it opens with vibrant notes of fresh red cherry, wild raspberry, and pomegranate, followed by nuanced hints of black tea, crushed stone, and a touch of subtle baking spice. It strikes a perfect balance between classic Oregon earthiness and pure, lifted fruit.

On the palate, Avni is medium-bodied, elegant, and incredibly precise. The tannins are fine-grained and silky, providing a gentle structure that supports the core of juicy red fruit without ever overpowering it. A vibrant, mouth-watering acidity drives the wine, keeping it fresh and lively all the way through to a long, savoury finish. It is a highly approachable and deeply satisfying Pinot Noir that beautifully captures the nuance and finesse of the Willamette Valley.

JAMES SUCKLING 93 points/100
Beautiful cherries and dried wild strawberry on the nose, together with dried orange peel, mild spices and a touch of cocoa. Tense and well structured, vibrant and fresh, with medium body, lively acidity and a zesty, crunchy finish. Drink or hold.

DECANTER 92 points/100
Tasted by: Clive Pursehouse (at Seattle, Washington, 28 Aug 2025)
Drinking Window: 2025 - 2031
Fruit for this Pinot Noir comes from four appellations, including the Eola-Amity, Mt Pisgah, Yamhill-Carlton and the Van Duzer Corridor. Ripe aromas of smashed blackberries, hot stone and ocean air jump from the glass. The palate is intensely structured, with 10% of Pinot undergoing carbonic maceration. Wild red berries, white pepper and mixed savoury herbs.

VINOUS 91 points/100
Drinking window: 2025 - 2028
The 2023 Pinot Noir Avni wafts up with a vibrant mix of crushed cherries, sweet lavender and spice. Juicy and round, it offers soothingly ripe wild berry fruit complicated by a nuance of bitter licorice toward the close. The finish is pleasantly chewy and long, leaving a sour berry resonance and smooth tannins to mingle on the palate.