LINGUA FRANCA Avni Chardonnay - Willamette Valley 2023 Bottle

Description

Founded by Master Sommelier Larry Stone and winemaker Thomas Savre, Lingua Franca has quickly become one of the Willamette Valley’s most highly regarded estates, celebrated for bringing a distinct Burgundian sensibility to Oregon's exceptional terroir. The Avni Chardonnay is a superb reflection of this philosophy, crafted to be approachable in its youth while delivering serious depth and complexity.

Sourced from premier vineyards across the valley, the 2023 vintage is a lesson in tension and elegance. On the nose, it opens with an inviting bouquet of crisp yellow apple, Meyer lemon, and white peach, underpinned by a distinct struck-flint minerality and a delicate hint of white blossom. The oak integration is seamless, adding just a whisper of toasted almond and subtle spice without masking the purity of the fruit.

The palate is beautifully textured, offering a gently creamy, mouth-filling weight that is instantly lifted by a surge of vibrant, citrus-driven acidity. It is precise and focused, balancing richness with a deeply savoury, mineral tension. The finish is exceptionally long and refreshing, leaving a lingering note of lemon zest and wet stone. It is a highly sophisticated Chardonnay that effortlessly bridges the gap between the New and Old World.

JAMES SUCKLING 92 points/100
This is a very fresh and mineral chardonnay, offering delicious orchard fruit, lemon rind, raw almonds and flinty undertones, together with a very elegant touch of spice. Medium-bodied, very clean and pristine, with textural complexity on the palate, with a gentle phenolic grip to the long, sleek finish. Drink or hold.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 92 points/100
Reviewed by: Erin Brooks
Drink Date: 2025 - 2035
The 2023 Chardonnay Avni has alluring aromas of quince, white peach, meringue, chamomile, beeswax and hazelnut. The medium-bodied palate has a satiny texture and expansive, honeyed flavors. Its generosity is balanced by mouthwatering acidity, and it has a long, textural finish.

VINOUS 92 points/100
Drinking window: 2025 - 2029
The 2023 Chardonnay Avni wafts up with an understated mix of chamomile and lime zest that complements green apples. Pretty inner sweetness is offset by sour citrus tones as silken textures soothe and ginger-infused orchard fruits swirl throughout. The finish is savory and long, leaving a pleasantly bitter tinge that keeps the mouth watering for more. Pretty and an amazing value.

DECANTER 92 points/100
Tasted by: Clive Pursehouse (at Seattle, Washington, 28 Aug 2025)
Drinking Window: 2025 - 2031
Grippy with minerality and saline depth, the Avni, which means stone, is appropriately named. Aromas of wild grasses, sea breeze and lemon pith are followed by a palate that is taut and energetic. Lime zest and sea salt combine with crushed granite minerality and a depth that's a touch phenolic; the whole thing rises to a bright, airy finish.