Blog » bunker hill
-
Willamette Valley Apogee: 2016 Lingua Franca Mimi's Mind
For years there was building buzz about Dominique Lafon's new collaboration with Larry Stone in the Eola-Amity Hills. That buzz reached a crescendo when the first vintage was released, and today the wines of Lingua Franca stand as among the very best Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays in the New World.Posted by Alexander Rosen
Today, I'm happy to offer the top Pinot Noir from Lingua Franca, the 2016 Mimi's Mind, sourced from Mimi Castell's iconic vineyard of heritage Pommard vines in the Eola-Amity-Hills.
Like all of the Pinot Noir from Lingua Franca, Mimi's Mind is all about forward, pristine red cherry fruits with great lift and dead-serious definition. It may sound trite, but the balance in Mimi's Mind is again sole reason Lingua Franca has skyrocketed to prominence in such a short period of time. These are just perfectly composed Pinot Noirs of grace, and Mimi's Mind is where the grandeur of all the elements reach its apogee.
Originally, I sat down a few years ago with Larry in La Jolla and tasted through the inaugural release from his winery, Lingua Franca. And since that time I've made two visits to his state-of-the-art winery in the Eola-Amity Hills. Tasting through the 2017's in barrel made clear this project is continuing to raise the bar.
Larry and Dominque had become very familiar with the Eola-Amity Hills working previously with the Seven Springs Vineyard, and in the end, Larry planted vines and built his winery right next door. Though their admiration of Oregon terroir throughout Willamette Valley was very high, both found a magic combination here where the entire picture of the wines maintained sharp focus. This was the sweet spot where minerality met ripe texture and the results personified that elusive Burgundian sensibility: Elegance and impact, without the compromise of terroir.
As consulting winemaker, Dominique Lafon of Comtes Lafon in Meursault, has a style that highlights silky fruit and seamless texture. His Volnay and Meursault wines are among the most collected in the world, and early on Larry Stone was a huge force introducing these to America. Larry was the 9th American to become a Master Sommelier and became the very first to win the Best International Sommelier in his competition in Paris. Working with Charlie Trotter's in Chicago and then the iconicRubicon restaurant in San Francisco Larry's work to cultivate the following of Burgundy in the US cannot be overstated.
The Jory and volcanic soils in Eola-Amity proved to be the ideal landing for this joint venture. And recruited from Burgundy was their winemaker, Thomas Savre, whose work in the cellars of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti brought a skilled and meticulous eye into the fold. Lingua Franca is one of the most exciting new estates I've been introduced to. The overall balance and purity of fruit to each of the cuvées ultimately reflect their place. The legendary names that built this winery from the ground up have surpassed even the highest expectations placed upon them.
Recent Articles
-
Willamette Valley Apogee: 2016 Lingua Franca Mimi's Mind August 12, 2019
Tags
- 1.5
- 1.5l
- 12
- 1954
- 1959
- 1961
- 1964
- 1967
- 1968
- 1969
- 1970
- 1973
- 19731978
- 1974
- 1976
- 1978
- 1979
- 1985
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 1er
- 1er cru
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2011
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 36
- 3L
- 4 Monos
- 5 ano
- 6 ano
- 6 pack
- 750
- 890
- 904
- a.j. adam
- abrossar
- accomasso
- Aglianico
- al
- alain
- albarin
- Albarino
- albe
- Albillo
- aldo conterno
- Alex Foillard
- alicante bouchet
- Aligote
- Allemand
- almonds
- Alsace
- alte
- alter holle
- Alto Piemonte
- alzinger
- Amarone
- Amity
- amphore
- Anjou
- antle vineyard
- Antonio galloni
- antoniolo
- arbois
- Arbois-Pupillin
- argile
- Arinto
- arnot roberts
- asili
- atalier
- atoine foucault
- Aubert de Villaine
- Auguste Clape
- auslese
- austria
- austrian
- Aux Malconsorts
- auxey duresses
- avize
- avni
- ayler
- baby margaux
- back vintage
- Baden
- Baga
- bairrada
- balnc
- balthazar
- Barbaresco
- Barbera
- barbera d'alba
- Barolo
- Barraida
- barrigards
- bartelemy
- Basque Country
- bassenon
- Basso
- bastardo
- batard montrachet
- Bates Ranch
- BB
- Beaujolais
- Beaujolais-Villages
- Beaune
- beauroy
- Beaux Bruns
- Beer
- Benanti
- benchmark
- benje tinto
- bernard
- Beru
- Bianco
- Bien Nacido
- bienvenues
- bienvenues batard
- Bierzo
- bilbro
- bildstock
- biodynamic
- biondi
- blanc
- blanc de blancs
- blanco
- blau
- blonde
- Blot
- blue fruit
- Bockenauer
- boisson
- Bonnes Mares
- Bordeaux
- Bordeaux Blend
- boudignon
- boudots
- boulay
- bourg
- Bourgogne
- bourgogne blanc
- Bourgogne Rouge
- Bourgueil
- Branco
- bressandes
- bretonniere
- Breze
- brovia
- BruEmm
- brunate
- brunate-Le coste
- brune
- Brunello
- Brunello di Montalcino
- brut
- brut nature
- bruyeres
- bugundy
- bunker hill
- burguet
- Burgundy
- Cabernet Franc
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- california
- Campania
- Canary Islands
- canneyt
- cannubi
- cannubi (san lorenzo)
- Cappellano
- cappuccio
- Carbonic
- Carignan
- carinyena
- carmenere
- caroline morey
- Carricante
- Cascina
- cascina franca
- Cascina Francia
- Cassis
- castell
- cava
- Caves San Joao
- celler
- ceps centenaires
- Cerasuolo di Vittoria
- certified
- cevins
- Chablis
- chache
- Chaillot
- chalk
- chambertin
- Chambeyron
- chambolle
- Chambolle Musigny
- Chambolle-Musigny
- Champ Gain
- Champagne
- champange
- champans
- champs gains
- chapelle des bois
- Chardonnay
- chardoonay
- Charlemagne
- charlie trotter
- charlopin
- Charmes
- charpentrie
- charvin
- Chassagne Montrachet
- chateau
- Chateau Chalon
- Chateau Thivin
- Chateauneuf du Pape
- Chateauneuf-du-Pape
- Chavaroche
- Chave
- Chavignol
- Chehalem Mountains
- Chenas
- chenin
- Chenin Blanc
- Cherbaudes
- chevalier
- chevalier montrachet
- chianti
- Chianti Classico
- Chichee
- chinato
- Chiroubles
- chiusa spagnolo
- Christiane
- Christoph Schaefer
- Ciro Picariello
- citrine
- Clairette
- Clape
- Classique
- Clear Lake
- clos
- Clos David
- clos de guichaux
- Clos de la Grand Coeur
- clos de la grand cour
- clos de la marchale
- Clos de la Roilette
- Clos de la Rue
- clos des aigrots
- clos des chenes
- Clos des Ducs
- Clos des Mouches
- clos du bourg
- Clos du Chapitre
- clos du chateau des ducs
- clos du roy
- Clos du Verseuil
- CLos Prieur
- clos rougeard
- Clos Saint-Joseph
- clos st. jacques
- Clos Vougeot
- Club de Cosechadores
- clusel roch
- co
- Coastal
- Coche
- Coche-Dry
- Colin
- collier
- Collines Rhodaniennes
- Collio
- collio goriziano
- Collita Roja
- Combe Aux Moines
- combottes
- complantee
- Comtes Lafon
- conterno
- contrada
- contrada barbabecchi
- contrada campo RE
- contrada feudo di mezzo
- contrada zottorinoto
- Cool Climate
- Coombsville
- Corbieres
- Corison
- Cornas
- cornelissen
- cornu
- Corse
- Corsica
- Cortese
- corton
- corton-bressandes
- coste
- Cotat
- cote
- Cote Brune
- Cote de Beaune
- Cote de Brouilly
- cote de nuits
- Cote Rotie
- Côte-Rôtie
- Coteaux Bassenon
- coteaux champenois
- Coteaux de Dijon
- Cotes de Provence
- Cotes du Jura
- Cotes du Rhone
- coulee de serrant
- CR
- Cras
- Crinquand
- crozes
- Crozes-Hermitage
- cru
- cry
- CS
- cuvee
- cuvee alexandrine
- cuvee reserve
- Cuvee Syrah
- Cuvee Tradition
- cuvee vigne alte
- d'alba
- D'Angerville
- Dagueneau
- dard
- Dauvissat
- dd
- de
- De Montille
- de valtuille
- del
- dervieux
- dessus
- dexter
- Dijon
- Dogliani
- Dolcetto
- Dolomites
- domaine
- Domaine Chave
- Domaine de la Cadette
- Domaine de la Cras
- Domaine du Bagnol
- domestic
- dominik Huber
- dominique
- Domprobst
- double magnum
- dry
- duc des nauves
- Dujac
- dutraive
- east block
- Ecueil
- edmond
- Egon Müller Scharzhofberger
- Eichberg
- el rapolao
- electric
- emilien
- En Champans
- En Combe Roy
- en coteaux
- encinas
- enfield
- enfield wine co
- Eola
- Eola-Amity Hills
- eric
- estate
- Etna
- experience
- extra brut
- Falanghina
- fass 12
- fass 7
- faury
- faviken
- fellom ranch
- Felseneck
- figari
- Fixin
- Fleurie
- folatieres
- Fontanasanta
- food tread
- for ross-seaview
- Foradori
- forest
- forets
- fossati
- fourrier
- fox hill
- France
- francesco
- Francia
- franco fiorina
- Francomar
- frank
- Frappato
- Frauenberg
- frederic
- Freisa
- fresh
- freu
- fritz haag
- Friulano
- Friuli
- Frohlich
- Fronholz
- fruity
- Fuoripista
- G.B. Burlotto
- Galicia
- Gamay
- Gang of Four
- Garnacha
- Gattinara
- Gavi
- Genevieres
- Genevrieres
- gentaz
- gerard
- Germain
- German
- Germany
- gevrey chambertin
- Gevrey-Chambertin
- geyserville
- GG
- Ghemme
- Ghislaine Barthod
- giacomo
- Gigondas
- Gilles
- ginger
- giulia
- giuseppe
- gnemiz
- godello
- gold standard
- Goldkapsel
- gonon
- Goulots
- Gour de Chaule
- Graach
- graillot
- Gramenon
- gran reserva
- Granato
- granbussia
- grance
- Grand Colline
- Grand Cru
- Grands Charrons
- Grands-Echezeaux
- Granite Terroir
- graviers
- Greco di Tufo
- Grenache
- Grenache Gris
- greves
- griffe de marquis
- Grille midi
- griotte
- Griotte Chambertin
- Griotte-Chambertin
- grolleau
- Grosjean
- Grotte Alte
- gruenchers
- gruner veltliner
- gruyaches
- GSM Blend
- guiberteau
- hajo
- halbtrocken
- Haro
- haut
- haut medoc
- haute-cotes de beaune
- Hautes cote de nuits
- hayne vineyard
- haynes
- haynes chardonnay
- hectare
- henri jayer
- hermitage
- Hermitage Blanc
- Hermtage
- heron lake
- Herve
- Hills
- himmelreich
- Hirotake ooka
- hope well
- Hubacker
- hubert
- huet
- IGP
- IGT
- indiana jones
- italian
- Italy
- jaboulet
- Jacky
- jacques
- jamet
- jasmin
- jean luc
- jean michel stephan
- jean-marie
- Jean-Michel
- jeroboam
- jewel
- jj prum
- joao
- john lockwood
- joly
- Jon Bonne
- Jose Pastor
- Joseph Drouhin
- Juge
- julian haart
- Jura
- kabinett
- Kallstadter
- Karthäuserhof
- Keller
- Kermit Lynch
- king
- kings vineyard
- kirschenmann
- Klaus Peter Keller
- koehler
- koehler-ruprecht
- Kronos Vineyard
- kupp
- kye
- l'esprit
- l'etonnat monsieur victor
- l;ultime
- La Baronne
- La Bidode
- La Charme Aux Pretes
- la charmes aux pretres
- La Chatelaine
- la claudrina
- la combe
- la del vivo
- la fresnaye
- la Geynale
- La Ghibellina
- La guiraude
- la landonne
- la madonne
- La Rioja Alta
- la ripaille
- la taille aux loups
- la vitoriana
- lafarge
- langhe
- Languedoc
- Late Release
- Lavaux Saint Jacques
- le chapitre
- le clos
- le coste
- le haut-lieu
- le mesnil
- le mont
- Le Pied de la Rue
- le poutet
- le pur
- le trezin
- Leflaive
- Left Bank Bordeaux
- leroy
- Les Amoureuses
- les arboises
- Les Arvelets
- Les Barrigards
- les beaux regards
- Les Bons Batons
- les caillerets
- Les Cazetiers
- les champs canet
- les champs perdrix
- Les Chapaudaises
- les chaumees
- les chevalieres
- Les Crais
- les cran
- Les Cras
- Les Fuees
- les grandes places
- Les Grands Epenots
- les longeroies
- Les macherelles
- les manyes
- Les Minots
- Les Mitans
- les monts fournois
- les motelles
- les moulins
- Les Pallieres
- Les Petits Monts
- Les petits Vougeots
- les peyrouses
- Les Pezerolles
- Les Referts
- les rieux
- Les Rougeots
- Les Rugiens
- Les Rugiens-Bas
- Les Sentiers
- Les Suchots
- Les Taillepieds
- Les Tillets
- les tosses
- Les Veroilles
- Lessona
- Levet
- library
- Lieu Dit en Papolet
- lieu-dit
- Limestone
- limit
- lisbon
- little hill
- little hillwest block
- loibner
- loire
- Loire Valley
- Lopez de Heredia
- low sulphur
- lust
- lychee
- lytton springs
- Macabeau
- Macon
- magic
- Magma
- Magnon
- magnum
- mailloche
- Mainin
- malbec
- Malvasia
- Manzoni Bianco
- Marc Roy
- margaux
- marl
- marsannay
- marsanne rousanne
- martinenga
- Mascarello
- Maxime
- Mazis-Chambertin
- mead ranch
- Mediterranean
- medoc
- Meix Chavaux
- Melon
- Melon de Bourgogne
- mencia
- mendocino
- Mercurey
- Merlot
- Mersault
- mes favorites
- Meursault
- michel lafarge
- mimis mind
- mind bending
- mineral
- mix pack
- moccagatta
- Mondeuse Blanche
- monfortino
- monopole
- Montagne de Reims
- Montalcino
- montbenault
- Monte bello
- montee de tonnere
- Montee de Tonnerre
- Montefalco
- montefico
- montevertine
- Monthelie
- montmains
- montrachet
- monttrachet
- monvigliero
- morey
- Morey Saint Denis
- Morey-Saint-Denis
- Morgon
- Mosel
- mosel saar ruwer
- moulin de tricot
- Moulin-a-Vent
- mount eden
- mountains
- Muenchberg
- mugnier
- munjebel
- Muscadet
- musigny
- musingy
- Nahe
- napa
- Napa Valley
- narvaux
- native yeast
- natur
- Neal Rosenthal
- Nebbiolo
- nerello
- Nerello Mascalese
- Nero d'Avola
- Nero di Lupo
- New California
- niellucciu
- no additives
- No Sulfur
- non-vintage
- north coast
- Northen Rhone
- northern California
- Northern Rhone
- Nosiola
- nouvelle R
- Nuits
- nuits saint george
- nuits saint georges
- Nuits-Saint-Georges
- NV
- oberberg
- Occhipinti
- off dry
- oger
- old vine
- Orange
- Oregon
- organic
- osso san grato
- Ostertag
- oubilee
- outis
- outlier
- Overnoy
- oyster
- PA
- Pardas
- paso robles
- Passetoutgrain
- patchwork
- Patrick Baudouin
- pearl
- Peñafiel
- Penedes
- pergole torte
- pernand vergelesses
- Perrieres
- persan
- peter lauer
- peter martin ray
- petillant
- petit verdot
- Petite Arvine
- petite syrah
- Peyrouses
- Pezerolles
- Pfalz
- Pfersigberg
- pian del ciampolo
- pie
- Pie franco
- pie rupestris
- Piedmont
- piedmontese
- pierre
- pierre gonon
- pierre Yves Colin Morey
- Pietra Marina
- pigs stomach
- Pineau d'Aunis
- Pinot Grigio
- Pinot GRis
- pinot meunier
- Pinot Noir
- piuze
- Plaisir
- Ploussard
- Poco do Lobo
- Poignee de Raisins
- Pommard
- ponca
- porcaria
- porto
- Portugal
- poruzots
- poruzots-dessus
- Poulsard
- pre-phylloxera
- premier
- premier cru
- premier cry
- pretty horses
- priorat
- Produttori
- produttori del barbaresco
- Prousots
- Provence
- PT
- pucelles
- pugnane di castiglione
- Puligny Montrachet
- Puligny-Montrachet
- pulingy montrachet
- PYCM
- QBA
- qualitatswein
- R
- rabaja
- Rajat Parr
- Ramonet
- raul perez
- ravera
- red
- red blend
- reduction
- reflet d'Antan
- Regnie
- reiserva speciale
- remensis rose
- remi jobard
- Renaissance
- reserva
- reserve
- Reynard
- rheinberg
- rheingau
- Rheinhessen
- Rhone
- rias baixas
- Ribeira Sacra
- ribo
- Ribolla Gialla
- Ridge
- ried
- Riesling
- right bank
- rinaldi
- Rioja
- riserva
- Robert michel
- Roccalini
- rodchen
- romanee
- ronco
- rosae
- Rose
- rose-marie
- rosso
- rostaing
- Rouge
- Rougeard
- Roulot
- Rousanne
- Roussillon
- Rozeta
- RR
- rubicon
- rupestris
- ruprecht
- russian river
- ruwer
- Saar
- Sagrantino
- saint
- Saint Amour
- saint emilion
- Saint Esteph
- saint jacques
- saint joseph
- Saint-Aubin
- Saint-Joseph
- San Fereolo
- san lorenzo
- San Zuan
- Sancerre
- Sangiovese
- sans soufre
- Santa Barbara
- Santa Barbara County
- Santa Cruz
- Santa Cruz Mountains
- Santa Maria Valley
- Santa Rita Hills
- santenay
- Sashi Moorman
- Saumaged
- saumagen
- Saumur
- Sauvignon Blanc
- savagnin
- Savoie
- Schafer
- Schäfer-Fröhlich
- schiste
- Schoenfels
- sciacacarellu
- sciaccarellu
- sec
- sekt
- selection
- senior
- sergio manetti
- Serine
- Serralunga d'alba
- Sgarzon
- Siccagno
- Sicily
- Sierra de Gredos
- Sierra du Sud
- Sigaut
- singular
- singulier
- sisters
- sitges
- Skin Contact
- Skin Fermented White
- Slate
- small production
- smaragd
- So'Brune
- sol
- Sonoma
- Sonoma Coast
- Souhaut
- souillard
- sous fretille
- sous la tour
- Sous la Velle
- Southern Rhone
- SP68
- Spain
- sparkling
- Spatburgunder
- spatlese
- speciale
- spicy
- st. amour
- st. helena
- St. Pierre de soucy
- stater west
- stein
- steinertal
- stems
- Stephan
- strawberry
- summer of riesling
- Super Tuscan
- Superiore
- supernova
- sweetwater
- sylvain pataiile