Thursday, December 8th, 2022
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In Honor of their Grandfather Robert Mondavi
"Royal St. Robert Cuvee"
Cult Sonoma Coast Grand Cru
2020 Vintage (Sold Out at the Winery)
2017 Library Vintage (Only 12 Bottles Available)
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Dear friends,
RAEN is run by American wine royalty: Carlo and Dante Mondavi, grandsons of Napa legend Robert Mondavi and sons of Continuum’s Tim Mondavi. With the same expertise and unrelenting passion that drove Robert to develop the world-famous Opus One and Tim to craft 100-point reds, Dante and Carlo are dedicated to Pinots of elegant, Burgundian finesse from the wild Sonoma coast.
Antonio Galloni of Vinous previously wrote: “Frankly, I had a hard time moving on from these wines as they were so deeply impressive from the moment I first tasted them."
After working with their father in building Continuum, Dante and Carlo decided to go off on their own and venture out to the West Sonoma Coast to make cool climate Pinot Noir that can stand on its own on the world stage. RAEN is a Pinot Noir domaine focused on yielding aromatic, lifted wines of finesse and elegance from three “grand cru” vineyards capable of sitting among the worlds finest.
In the cellar RAEN strives to capture the delicate micro flora from their vineyard in they wines. They achieve this by utilizing whole cluster fermentations relying only on the native yeasts that exist naturally on the grapes giving us a deeper connection to our sites. After fermentation the wines are pressed and aged in neutral French oak barrels allowing the wines to evolve in a gentle manner without overpowering the delicate aromatic notes. The wines will age between 10 to 20 months depending on the vintage and site. Once the Mondavis feel the wines are ready RAEN is then bottled without fining or filtration to further keep these pure delicate notes intact.
RSR stands for "Royal St. Robert" and the bottling is dedicated to their grandfather Robert, who taught and inspired them. A selection of our coastal vineyard sites, this special cuvée offers a window into the cool, rugged hills of the West Sonoma Coast. The RSR fruit is grown around the village of Freestone out on the true Sonoma Coast. Overlooking Bodega Bay and the Sonoma Coast line, weather is cool leaving the vines exposed at this site. On summer mornings Pacific fog engulfs the vineyard, covering the fruit with essential ocean mist. The fog recedes back in the late mornings, drenching the vines in afternoon sunlight and warmth. Planted to unique selections, including Calera, Pommard, 828, rVR1 and 667, they all offer layers to the final wine and all express a unique interpretation of this cool site.
Please note the 2020 vintage is already sold out at the winery. And, even better, because access to their 2020 vintage was so limited, the winery decided to offer a library release of the 2017 vintage! There are only 12 bottles of that beauty to go around, so please order promptly!
Cheers,
—James Tran
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2020 RAEN "Royal St. Robert Cuvee" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
95 Points - James Suckling:
"Cranberry and strawberry aromas and flavors with lemon rind and crushed stones. Medium-bodied with a red-fruit and citrusy finish. Tight and serious. Better after 2024." (Mar 2022)
95 Points - Robert Parker's WA (2019 vintage):
"Medium ruby, the 2019 Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert is bursting with alluring cranberries, rhubarb and strawberries with nuances of charcuterie, tangerine peel, black tea leaves and dried roses. The medium-bodied palate offers layer after layer of spicy red fruit, supported by fine, silty tannins and finishing with uplifting freshness and perfume that calls you in again and again for another sip." -EB (7/14/22)
92 Points, #85 Top 100 '22 - Wine Spectator (2019 vintage):
"A brisk, unadorned style that relies on a persistent mix of dried herbs, damson plum, bitter cherry and blood orange allied to a lean, tensile frame. Extends easily through the lengthy finish. This style isn't for everyone, but this is a seriously good wine. Drink now through 2027. 2,075 cases made." -JM (9/30/22)
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Fermentation: 80% whole cluster, natively fermented
- Only 36 bottles are available
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Elsewhere: $69.99 btl
Our Price: $64.97 btl
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2017 RAEN "Royal St. Robert Cuvee" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
97 Points - James Suckling:
"Aromas of rose petals, rose stems, orange peel, thistle leaf, tea and dried strawberry. It’s medium-to full-bodied with a creamy texture. Fresh mushrooms and moss. Complex. Gorgeous now." (Apr 2022)
94 Points - Robert Parker's WA:
"The 2017 Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert was made with 100% whole cluster. Pale to medium ruby-purple, the nose offers boysenberry, blackberries, crushed red cherries, smoky charcuterie notes and spicy cranberry sauce scents plus touches of forest floor and moss coming through with time in the glass. It's light to medium-bodied with concentrated, spicy fruits with well-woven tannins and juicy acidity to refresh the finish." - Erin Brooks (Dec 2019)
94 Points - Vinous:
"The 2017 Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert is absolutely gorgeous. A wild array of floral and savory notes make a strong opening statement. Expressive and multi-faceted, the Royal St. Robert is positively dazzling from the very first taste. The interplay of fruit, whole cluster savoriness and structure results in a captivating Pinot that has more than enough pedigree to reward a number of years of cellaring. This is a brilliant showing. Wow! (Drink between 2022-2032)" - Antonio Galloni (May 2019)
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Fermentation: 80% whole cluster, natively fermented
- Only 12 bottles are available
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Elsewhere: $89.99 btl
Our Price: $79.97 btl
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