2015 vintage notes
94 points Wine Spectator: "Expressive and elegantly complex, with apple skin and spice aromas and precise flavors of star fruit, lime and mineral that build momentum toward the finish. Drink now through 2019."
This special cuvée is named after my mother Rachel and her sister Aida, who throughout their lives managed to stay together and sustain one another for nearly 90 years. They grew up on a farm and vineyard in Romania before the Second World War, in a loving, large family—as farmer families often are--that nurtured several linguistically gifted members, two cabinet makers, a trademark specialist and more than one winemaker. The name of Lingua Franca was inspired by my mother’s youthful interest in Esperanto, a lingua franca that aspires to encourage world peace through understanding. Lingua Franca returns my family to its farming and winemaking roots as well as returning me to the region I grew up in, the Pacific Northwest.
This chardonnay combines the finest chardonnay lots of the vintage, from 100% Jory and Nekia soils in the Eola-Amity Hills, Bunker Hill (Salem) and Dundee. The depth of flavor in the pure volcanic soil-born Chardonnay fruit creates a wine that is intense and long. The apparent lack of weight in the wine is a paradox that merits revisiting with every sip. It can seem racy one moment and dense and rich the next, making it lively and multifaceted.
Food: Classic sea bass preparations, turbot with leeks, black cod with miso, poached or steamed seafood with lemon juice, or beurre blanc, chicken breast with a lemon caper sauce, tataki tuna, whole roasted sole with drawn butter, Maine lobster with drawn butter, unagi, spaghettini with sea urchin sauce.