Lingua Franca
Larry Stone, Master Sommelier, spent two years negotiating for this land before buying it at the end of 2012. Dominique Lafon consults. Mimi Casteel farms it on organic and biodynamic principles. Every part of that shows up in the glass.
A man who had tasted everything worth tasting went looking for a hillside, and spent two years getting this one. That is the premise, and the wines are made as though it mattered.
The wine
Ask for The Plow, the Pinot Noir. The 2024 is current at $75, and the 2023 is still available at the same price — either is worth drinking.
Avni is the entry tier and the Estate wines the core. Alongside Pinot and Chardonnay they make Gamay Noir and Chenin Blanc under the L’Atelier label, which is not where most Eola-Amity estates would spend their attention.
Who it is for
Finesse starts with detail, and detail is the whole proposition here. The focus is on wine whose quality is nothing short of exquisite, and the tasting room is built to keep you calm enough to notice it.
Who would find it wrong: anyone who loves bigger, bolder varietals and does not want to slow down for the details. This is precision, not power. If you want weight in the glass you will leave underwhelmed.
What to expect
Prepaid reservations through Tock, parties of one to six, open every day from ten until four. Three experiences: the Lingua Franca Experience at $50, The Allocated at $75, and The Comparatif at $100. A cheese and charcuterie plate designed by Larry Stone is available on request.
Thomas Savre is director of winemaking. The farming follows organic and biodynamic principles but carries no certification, which is worth knowing if certification is what you are looking for.
Fantastically detailed and complex wines, in a tasting room that makes you feel calm and focused.
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