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We just received our allocation of RAEN's best vintage to date: 2023
Continuum Son's Mind-Blowing Cult Sonoma Coast Grand Cru
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Dear Artisans,
We have extolled the virtues of Raen Pinot Noir as a "must-buy" for years, and we're not the only fans: in December 2023, the 2021 Occidental and 2021 Raen, our two best recommendations from the West Sonoma Coast, were ranked by Wine Spectator as their #2 and #4 Wines of 2023. (They sold out within minutes.)
Through our strong relationships, we were able to score a limited allocation of the 2023 vintage of their Royal St. Robert's Cuvee - a vintage that Dante and Carlo consider to be a "nearly perfect" one. This winery goes from strength to strength and while the ratings will be published later this year, they are expected to follow suit for the previous '22 vintage's 98-99 points.
Don't miss out on this rare opportunity to secure the finest from the greatest vintage *the just-minted West Sonoma Coast AVA has had to date!
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*Wine Spectator Article
The True Sonoma Coast Gets Wine Appellation Status
After a decades-long battle, federal authorities have approved the West Sonoma Coast AVA (link)
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More Background: 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.
All my best,
—James Tran
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2023 RAEN "Royal St. Robert Cuvee" Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
In Honor of their late Grandfather Robert Mondavi
99 Points - James Suckling:
"An amazingly complex, dynamic wine that demands your attention from the first sniff to the lingering finish. Aromas of redwood forest, rosemary, purple flowers and black cherries, then black tea, pomegranate, dark cherry, dried raspberry and wild mushroom flavors. Fine-grained moderate tannins and crunchy acidity give it such a firm backbone. Drink now or hold.
97 Points - Decanter (2022):
"Raen uses all whole clusters across the red wines. The smoky aromatics and pungent floral aromas of this wine are about the microflora of the vineyard. All native yeasts, unfiltered and unfined, with 10% new oak, crushed violets and stone, and smoky clove aromas. Dark fruits that dance lightly across the tongue. Black tea, and pomegranate pulp are brighten by a squeeze of blood orange. The finish is lifted by white pepper and Chinese five spice. Seafield and Bodega vineyards comprise this wine dedicated to Robert Mondavi."
95 Points, Rank #4 Top 100 of 2023 - Wine Spectator (2021 vintage)
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Fermentation: 100% whole cluster, natively fermented
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Alcohol: 13%
- Only 18 bottles left
Elsewhere: $89.99
OURS $79.97
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2023 RAEN "Lady Marjorie" Sonoma Coast Chardonnay
In Honor of their late Grandmother Marjorie Ellen Mondavi (Declusin)
99 Points - James Suckling:
"A light-bodied yet oh-so-full-flavored wine that opens with stony, floral aromas that lead to fresh and ripe fruit flavors backed by racy acidity. A great creamy texture but vivid in acid, minerals and chalk that lift the pear, citrus and white flower flavors. So elegant and lively, yet full of flavor and marked by a lingering finish. Drink or hold."
96 Points - Decanter (2022):
"Lady Marjorie is a whole bunch pressed with a reductive character, creating a smoky marshmallow note on the nose. This vineyard is an own-rooted site which has been hit with phylloxera. The aromas show ample minerality, flinty grilled lime and white flowers. The palate is a marriage of honeyed apricot richness with great notes of briny seafoam, crushed slate and hints of bright lemon zest and white pepper. They Pick early (and to pH) to capture freshness, using no battonage. This Chardonnay was a whole cluster pressed and fermented in a concrete egg. This wine is dedicated to Dante and Carlo's grandmother, the family matriarch who never received the credit she deserved." (Drink between 2024-2036)
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Fermentation: 100% whole cluster, natively fermented
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Alcohol: 13%
- Only 18 bottles left
Elsewhere: $89.99
OURS $74.97
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2023 RAEN "Sea Field" Fort Ross-Seaview Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
About the Vineyard:
Our 4.8 Sea Field Vineyard (monopole) produces our most elegant wines year in and year out. This unique bottling comes from an ancient Sea Field of diverse marine soils and fractured bedrock dating back between 66 and 200 million years. Soaring 1,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean and less than 3 miles from its waters, Sea Field is both our most coastal and highest elevation pinot noir site. The combination of these elements creates Sea Field.
99 Points - James Suckling:
This has great tension between the bold, dramatic fruit and mineral flavors and the chalky, firm and brightly crisp texture. Laced with layers of red and black cherries and vivid raspberries, with strawberries in the finish. All backed by nervy acidity and moderate tannins for a sense of tension and linearity.
94 Points - Vinous:
The 2023 Pinot Noir Sea Field is a powerful, intensely mineral wine. Iron, gravel, red-toned fruit and rose petal are all finely sculpted. Salivating acids and a spine of searing tannins give the Sea Field its shape and insistent, driving personality. Bright saline notes extend the nuanced, bracing finish. This nervy Pinot needs time in bottle to be at its most expressive.
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Fermentation: 100% whole cluster, natively fermented
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Alcohol: 12.5%
- Only 18 bottles left
Elsewhere: $129.99
OURS $119.97
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And Last 2 Bottles of the Previous Vintage Left!
2022 RAEN "Sea Field" Fort Ross-Seaview Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
About the Vineyard:
Our 4.8 Sea Field Vineyard (monopole) produces our most elegant wines year in and year out. This unique bottling comes from an ancient Sea Field of diverse marine soils and fractured bedrock dating back between 66 and 200 million years. Soaring 1,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean and less than 3 miles from its waters, Sea Field is both our most coastal and highest elevation pinot noir site. The combination of these elements creates Sea Field.
98 Points - James Suckling:
"Spices and dried strawberries with stone and mineral aromas as well as sandalwood and oyster shell. Some orange peel and lavender. Full-bodied with layers of very fine tannins that have a firm and direct nature. It goes on for minutes. So structured with tannins that spread across the palate. Needs time to soften and open."
97 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The jeweled ruby-hued 2022 Pinot Noir Sea Field comes from a 4.8-acre site in the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA and offers a more savory, coastally influenced profile. In the glass, it boasts aromas of wild cherries, incense, pine needles, rocky earth, and toasted spice. On the palate, it also takes on more intensity, and while it remains medium-bodied, it has crystalline purity with ripe concentration throughout, as well as ripe tannins and a clean, salty, mineral finish. It’s an exceptional wine from Raen to drink over the coming 15 years."
96 Points - Vinous:
"Dark-toned fruit, spice leather, menthol and gravel infuse the 2022 with notable density and pure power. Like all the RAEN wines, the Sea Field was done with 100% whole clusters, but the stems are pretty much buried by the sheer intensity of the fruit." - Antonio Galloni (Jan 2024)
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Fermentation: 100% whole cluster, natively fermented
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Alcohol: 12.5%
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Only 2 bottles left of the vintage! Winery is sold out
Elsewhere: $127.99
OURS $119.97
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MICHELIN STAR Favorite, Grand Cru Quality
Lowest Price in the Country for Cult Rhys Vineyards Chardonnay
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