Owner Larry Stone is an influential master sommelier who served at Charlie Trotters, Four Seasons and Rubicon. In 2013 he purchased the Janzen farm in the Eola-Amity Hills with proceeds from the sale of his personal wine cellar and assistance from his relatives. He named these 66 acres site LS “Larry Stone” Vineyard and planted it to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. In 2015 Larry co-founded Lingua Franca with David Honig and Dominique Lafon.

The 2019 The Plow Pinot Noir is sourced from some of the best blocks from the Lingua Franca estate vineyard. This estate site is composed of rocky Gelderman-Jory sub-soils with elements of volcanic basalt and large gravel. It is fermented with wild yeast and spends 12 months in new and neutral French Oak barriques before an additional 5 months in stainless steel. The Plow has an elegant approach and is a very engaging Pinot Noir. Behind the dark crimson color are nuances of dark cherry, rhubarb, cranberry and dried herbs along with an ample amount of well-balanced acidity. There is so much going on inside that it may be wise to give it time to show all of its potential.

By W Peter Hoyne