The 2021 Lingua Franca Estate Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir hails from Oregon's renowned Willamette Valley, specifically the Eola-Amity Hills appellation. This Pinot Noir, produced by Lingua Franca, offers a notable 13.0% alcohol content and is sealed with a traditional cork closure.
The wine has garnered praise from several respected reviewers, with scores predominantly in the mid-90s. Decanter awarded it a 93, noting its "robust and rich aromatics" that are balanced by elegance on the palate. The review highlights violet, dusty black cherry, and gravelly minerality in the aromatics, while describing the palate as "lushly fruited" with dark red and blue fruits framed by a graceful structure and a long stony mineral finish.
Jeb Dunnuck's Audrey Frick gave the wine an impressive 95, emphasizing its complex nose with notes of "framboise, wild herbs, rosemary, and dusty earth." The palate is described as having "iron richness" with ripe fruit, tannins, and an even spine of acidity. Frick also remarked on its potential for aging, suggesting it will do well over the next 8-10 years, retaining "wonderful purity" with enough substance to last.
Wine Spectator also rated the wine at 95, calling it a "compelling, multilayered red." The review highlights "lilting raspberry and cherry flavors" that evolve to reveal "fresh violet and earthy mineral accents," building tension toward refined tannins. The wine is recommended for consumption now through 2032, indicating its longevity.
Vinous' Eric Guido provided a score of 94, noting the wine's evolution in the glass and describing it as having a "gorgeous magenta" color. The bouquet includes "wild strawberries, raspberries, rosemary, sage, and crushed rocks." The palate balances "silky, refined textures with crisp wild berries and tactile mineral tones," guided by brisk acidity. Guido also mentions that the 2021 finishes "grippy, long and wonderfully balanced," leaving primary concentration and edgy tannins.
In summary, the 2021 Lingua Franca Estate Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir is a well-regarded wine with a harmonious blend of complex aromatics and flavors. Its structure and balance make it suitable for aging, with multiple reviewers noting its potential to evolve beautifully over the next decade.