They combine top-tier estate vineyards and impeccable farming with the expertise of legendary winemaker Dominique Lafon, whos best known for making $4,000 bottles at his familys domaine in Burgundy.

Its everything you could want out of a winery.

If anyone was going to make that claim, Thomas would be the man to do it. Born in France, and with experience at Domaine de la Romane-Conti and Domaine Dujac, he became Dominique Lafons right-hand manfirst at Evening Land, then here at Lingua Franca. As if to back up his bold statement, he even noted that Burgundy was starting to implement ideas that originated in Oregon.

If any further proof was needed, youd just have to open a bottle of Lingua Francas 2021s. They took full advantage of the modern-classic vintage to produce a stunning set of wines, with The Plow and Bunker Hill leading the way. These helped inspire James Suckling to declare, The state makes some of the best Pinot Noirs AND Chardonnays in the world. I used a capital-lettered and to emphasize that Oregon makes superb chardonnay with some bottles at the same level as Grand Cru Burgundy.

Bunker Hill Vineyard is a stunning site in the Willamette Valleys South Salem Hills, a windy region dominated by volcanic basalt soils. The vineyard predates Lingua Francait was planted in the mid-90sbut its purchase was one of the first things that Lingua Francas founders, star sommelier Larry Stone and Dominique Lafon, negotiated. At Bunker Hill, the winds and 650+ feet of altitude preserve fresh acidity in the wine, creating a bottle that will stand with Premier Cru Puligny.

On the Pinot side, The Plow comes from the upper blocks of the Lingua Franca estate vineyard, which boasts coveted Jory soilssimilar to what made Dundees red hills so famousand a massale selection of the 777 clone. These volcanic soils are beloved by Willamette winemakers for the floral tones and seductive dark-cherry fruit they bring, which marry perfectly to the depth and structure typical of the Eola-Amity Hills.

All Lingua Francas sites are farmed with sustainability in mind: The legendary Mimi Casteelwhose specialty is regenerative viticulturewas a part of the project at the very beginning, and set up many of Lingua Francas farming practices.