Wine Specs
Vintage
2024
Varietal
Chardonnay
Appellation
Willamette Valley
Harvest Date
9/9-9/16
pH
3.33
Alcohol %
13.5
2024 Lingua Franca Estate Chardonnay
New Release
Product on Backorder
Our 2024 Estate Chardonnay leads with a complex nose of osmanthus blossom, sea spray and pear notes, then continues on the palate to reveal white peach, litchi, cardamom, lemon zest, a soft, palate caressing texture and a long bright finish. This vintage amply displays the depth of flavor and subtlety of the terroir at the home estate.
Wine Profile
Vineyard Notes
Lingua Franca Estate Chardonnay is sourced primarily from the original blocks planted by Larry Stone in 2012, which yielded balanced, yet full flavored fruit and maturity in 2023 and has continued to show exceptional qualities.
Production Notes
The fruit is field sorted, hand-picked, then 91% whole cluster pressed, 9% crushed and pressed, then settled in tank for 24 hours on average, barrel fermented with wild yeast in a combination of 27% new, lightly toasted 500-liter puncheons, and 73% old French oak puncheons and barriques from diverse coopers. Full malolactic fermentation completed spontaneously in each barrel. After 11 months aging on lees, the wines were combined in tank with their lees for five months prior to bottling.
Winemaker Notes
2024 has been described as a perfect growing season. Budbreak began in early April, and bloom took place third week of June. Early summer temperatures were in the 70s and 80s, with a couple of heat spikes in the high 90s, in July, when these can be beneficial. The temperatures became cooler in September and October, allowing harvest to extend more than a month with each parcel being picked at optimal ripeness and freshness. Picking began the second week of September, and each block could be picked at exactly the right time.
Food Pairing Notes
The round texture given the wine by the low yielding CH548 clone makes this a good match for shellfish dishes with drawn butter or sauces, and seafood pastas, poached or sautéed seafood, gumbos, paella, linguine with clams, steamed mussels, steamed vegetables with Dijon-dill mayonnaise or with lemon and herbs. It is also excellent with roast lemon chicken. Experimentation is welcome!
