Lingua Franca Avni Pinot Noir 2022
There is a winery born from an extraordinary collaboration: Master Sommelier Larry Stone, the first American to win the prestigious Grand Prix de Sopexa in France; renowned Burgundian winemaker Dominique Lafon; and his protégé, the talented winemaker Thomas Savre. Together, they founded Lingua Franca in the Willamette Valley, one of Oregon’s most celebrated wine regions.
In 2012, after nearly two years of effort, Larry Stone finally secured a vineyard site on an east-facing slope in the Eola-Amity Hills. The land was surrounded by some of the region’s most prestigious vineyards, including Argyle’s Lone Star Vineyard, Domaine Serene’s Jerusalem Hill Vineyard, and Evening Land’s Seven Springs Vineyard. Yet at the time, Larry had no intention of making wine himself; his plan was simply to grow high-quality grapes and sell them to neighboring producers. That plan, however, would soon change.
Dominique Lafon, who frequently traveled to Oregon to consult for Evening Land, seemed to sense the potential of the site. He believed that exceptional wine could be made from Larry’s vineyard and proposed a partnership. He also recommended his protégé, Thomas Savre — who had gained experience at leading Burgundy domaines and at Evening Land — to take charge of winemaking on-site. With this trio in place, the winery officially launched in 2016. They named it Lingua Franca, meaning “a common language,” reflecting their vision of creating wines that bring people together beyond differences in background or language.
Although Lingua Franca has been well received by international wine critics, it only recently became available in Korea, imported by Winell starting about two years ago. I first had a brief encounter with the wines at Winell’s “Art in the Glass Grand Tasting” in the spring of 2024, and later had the opportunity to taste the full lineup when brand director Josh Wludyka visited Korea that fall. Among the six wines presented, the one that stood out the most was the entry-level cuvée: Lingua Franca Avni Pinot Noir 2022. Even though I was there as a journalist, I ended up purchasing a bottle on the spot — a testament to how much it impressed me. After resting in my cellar for about a year, I recently opened it.
Avni Pinot Noir is composed of 32% estate fruit and 68% sourced from nearby vineyards — not owned by the winery, but widely regarded as top-tier sites. The grapes are hand-harvested and undergo native fermentation in stainless steel tanks and concrete fermenters, with 10% whole-cluster inclusion. The wine is then aged for 12 months in French oak barriques, 27% of which are new.
The nose shows medium intensity, with vibrant aromas of raspberry, red cherry, and blueberry, layered with notes of black tea, violet, dried flowers, and herbs. Oak influence appears subtly through hints of charred wood and smoke, while secondary aromas evoke hay, forest floor, and a rustic, farm-like bouquet. On the palate, medium-plus acidity harmonizes with finely integrated tannins, moderate alcohol, and a balanced body, leading to an elegant, lingering finish.
Above all, it is the seamless harmony of this wine — with no rough edges — that perfectly embodies the name Lingua Franca: a wine that truly speaks a universal language.
