Lingua Franca

Sisters Chardonnay

US, Oregon

2023

Crafted from chardonnay grown in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA in Oregon, the grapes are hand-picked and whole-cluster pressed, spending a day in stainless steel followed by barrel fermentation with wild yeast in 600-litre puncheons. Aged sur lie for 11 months, the result is a creamy chardonnay bursting with tropical fruit flavours that's a perfect match for Dover sole.

Sisters Chardonnay represents Lingua Franca's most refined expression of chardonnay, crafted as a barrel selection that highlights the estate's purest fruit and most expressive lots. Farming is organic and low‑impact, with each parcel vinified separately before blending, allowing the team, led by Larry Stone MS and shaped by Burgundian influence, to emphasise textural finesse.

Sisters Chardonnay is made using hand-picked and whole-cluster pressed grapes, settled for 24 hours in closed stainless steel tanks. The wine is then barrel fermented with wild yeast in 22 per cent new, 78 per cent old French 600 litre puncheons from diverse coopers. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrel follows, then 11 months aging on the lees. Finally, the wine is assembled in stainless steel tank with its lees for five months prior to bottling.

Tasting
NOTES

Rich and powerful, this chardonnay is packed with tropical fruit aromas, with pineapple, peach and pear coming to the fore alongside apricot and buttery brioche. Vibrant and structured with an appealing minerality, on the palate you'll find red and yellow apple flavours, a touch of struck match, and a hint of vanilla and spice from the oak. It's an expressive, refreshing and well-balanced wine with a distinctive sweet oak character and a creamy mouthfeel.

Food
PAIRINGS

The creamy texture of this Oregon chardonnay makes it an ideal pairing for grilled Dover sole, seared scallops with beurre noisette, or a veal chop with lemon butter.