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| Country: | United States |
| Regions: | California California (Sonoma County) |
| Winery: | Raen |
| Grape Type: | Pinot Noir |
| Vintage: | 2024 |
| Bottle Size: | 750 ml |
Raen Sonoma Coast Royal St Robert Cuvee Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Our Royal St. Robert bottling is dedicated to our grandfather Robert, who has been our greatest teacher in our journey in wine. This special cuvée is a selection from our coastal vineyards, giving a window into the rugged hills of the westerly Sonoma Coast. Captivating aromas of crushed blackberries, just-ripe plum and sour black cherries fill the bowl.
Floral notes of fresh roses and black tea with bergamot follow, giving way to wet gravel and warm, sun-dried forest floor. The powerful red and black fruit core is delicately interlaced with these floral tea notes and it couples with exotic spice box, which seamlessly comes together in a persistently long, bright and youthful finish.
whole cluster • natively fermented • 10 acres • 13% alc
RAEN is the Sonoma Coast project of Carlo and Dante Mondavi, dedicated to cool-climate, organically farmed coastal Pinot Noir. Named for their grandfather Robert, the Royal St. Robert Cuvée draws from westerly Sonoma Coast sites where fog and ocean wind stretch the growing season and preserve the bright acidity and floral lift that define the wine.
Review:
Spellbinding aromas of rose petals, strawberries, citrus and bark, with hints of lemongrass. Medium-bodied, tight and structured, this offers a captivating combination of linear intensity and calmness, so classy and sophisticated. A continued benchmark for American pinot noir. Drink or hold.
James Suckling, 99 points
Review:
-James Suckling 99 Points
In a remote, raw territory where the forest and meadows meet the Pacific Ocean is where the story of RAEN begins. These hills of the Sonoma Coast provide a diversity of soil, elevation and climate that allow for wines of incredible expression, elegance and length.
RAEN is a Pinot Noir domaine focused on yielding aromatic, lifted wines of finesse and elegance from what we consider to be California “grand cru” vineyards capable of sitting among the worlds finest.
In the vineyards our farming is reverting back to what we might have seen when our family began farming and working with pinot noir 100 years ago and perhaps closer to the way the monks farmed it hundreds of years ago. Our goal is not just to honor the fruit we grow but also the nature in which it is growing.
In the cellar we strive to capture the delicate micro flora from our vineyard in our wines. We do 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 our wines to evolve in a gentle manner without overpowering the delicate aromatic notes. The wines will age between 10 to 18 months, depending on the vintage, then bottled once we feel the wines are ready.
Matthews Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley is made from 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15%Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec.
The 2021 Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is deep ruby in the glass with purple hues. The rich bouquet of spiced black plum and cocoa nib are balanced with aromas of fresh earth and crushed flint. Intense and opulent flavors of ripe blackberry, cedar, mocha, and black currant coat the broad and balanced palate and the ripe tannin creates a perfect frame for the lush fruit expression. Cherry cordial and cola linger on the long, quenching finish.
Review:
-Decanter 94 Points
-Owen Bargreen 94 Points
-Wine Spectator 93 Points
-Vinous 93 Points
-Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points
Holocene Memorialis Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Holocene Pinot Noir Memorialis is a blend of 777, Pommard and 115 clones from MonksGate vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, and it saw about 20% new French oak for 16 months prior to bottling. It is always the lighter and more feminine of the two Holocene wines, with red fruits, white flowers, dried herbs, mushroom and forest floor aromatics, bright acidity and a lithe texture, long finish.
By now, everyone knows that the Willamette Valley is an amazing place to grow Pinot Noir. When I relocated from Napa Valley to partner up with Force Majeure Vineyards, I knew I also wanted to start a project where I could focus attention on a varietal and growing region that I loved. Part of the excitement of being in the Pacific Northwest is the ability to have access to so many amazing vineyards and so much diversity, along with the opportunity to push boundaries and try new things – something that is becoming increasingly difficult in other growing regions.
We partner up with a few very small, diverse and amazing vineyards in the Willamette Valley, sourcing fruit from these dry-farmed sites that emphasize low yields, sustainable practices and produce outstanding fruit.
The wines are crafted in the same way I have been making wine since I was carrying it out at Bryant Family Vineyard in the Napa Valley — utilizing very low-impact, non-industrial techniques, native yeasts, little extraction and little new oak, and never filtering or fining. This allows a real sense of place to show through in the wines that is often dimmed when too much manipulation is undertaken.
Our first vintage was 2015, and was released in early 2017. As production is currently extremely small, the best way to get the wines into your hands is to join our mailing list at the “Mailing List” link above to receive an allocation when we have a release. We release wines once per year, and they will be sold on a first come, first served basis, shipped straight to your door.
Review:
-Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
Holocene Memorialis Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Holocene Pinot Noir Memorialis is a blend of 777, Pommard and 115 clones from MonksGate vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, and it saw about 20% new French oak for 16 months prior to bottling. It is always the lighter and more feminine of the two Holocene wines, with red fruits, white flowers, dried herbs, mushroom and forest floor aromatics, bright acidity and a lithe texture, long finish.
By now, everyone knows that the Willamette Valley is an amazing place to grow Pinot Noir. When I relocated from Napa Valley to partner up with Force Majeure Vineyards, I knew I also wanted to start a project where I could focus attention on a varietal and growing region that I loved. Part of the excitement of being in the Pacific Northwest is the ability to have access to so many amazing vineyards and so much diversity, along with the opportunity to push boundaries and try new things – something that is becoming increasingly difficult in other growing regions.
We partner up with a few very small, diverse and amazing vineyards in the Willamette Valley, sourcing fruit from these dry-farmed sites that emphasize low yields, sustainable practices and produce outstanding fruit.
The wines are crafted in the same way I have been making wine since I was carrying it out at Bryant Family Vineyard in the Napa Valley — utilizing very low-impact, non-industrial techniques, native yeasts, little extraction and little new oak, and never filtering or fining. This allows a real sense of place to show through in the wines that is often dimmed when too much manipulation is undertaken.
Our first vintage was 2015, and was released in early 2017. As production is currently extremely small, the best way to get the wines into your hands is to join our mailing list at the “Mailing List” link above to receive an allocation when we have a release. We release wines once per year, and they will be sold on a first come, first served basis, shipped straight to your door.
Review:
-Decanter World Wine Awards 96 Points
-Eric Guido (Vinous) 95 Points
Argot Bastard Tongue Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Sonoma Pinot Noir.
Inheriting an unbroken string of success, the “Bastard Tongue” arrives fully-formed and ready to impress. Always a blend from multiple Pinot Noir vineyards, this iteration of “BT” was selected from three distinct sites, each making their own unique contribution of Sonoma County terroir to the wine’s character.
Exploding forth on a tidal wave of high-toned, intense red and black fruits, this is a Pinot Noir that no stemware can contain. The palate’s profound depth is balanced by an inherent freshness, allowing the wine to crackle with brambly energy, while sustained by bass notes of underbrush, black tea, pie spice and baker’s chocolate. A formidable rendition of “Bastard Tongue”, and a deserving successor to its line.
Night harvested by hand throughout September, cluster and berry sorted by hand, de-stemmed, no crushing. 7-day cold soaks, followed by native fermentation in open-top bins. Average time on the skins, 14 days. Aging 20 months in French oak, 100% new. Never racked prior to bottling. Bottled unfined, unfiltered.
Very versatile for pairing. Goes well with grilled meat, vegetable, fish, poultry and cheese.
Review:
“The 2022 ‘Bastard Tongue’ Pinot Noir from Argot is utterly mind-blowing. It immediately draws you in with its seductive aromatic of fresh black raspberries, wild strawberries and even a touch of blueberry all woven together with sweet spices, cinnamon, crushed violets and earthy undertones. On the palate, the wine is both rich and graceful, with a lively acidity that elevates the sweet red fruit notes of red currant and black raspberries. Fine, polished tannins provide a round, silky texture that leads into a supple finish that lingers with sweet berries and sweet spices.”
The word "Balade" is French for wandering. This is a fitting term for our annual exploration of single-vineyard Pinot Noir & Chardonnay blocks on the west coast. Each vintage, we will bottle only the most compelling and nuanced expression of pinot noir from a single selected vineyard and release it as a limited bottling.
Tasting Notes
Beautiful golden hue with enticing aromas of honeyed almond, vanilla custard, ripe pear, and hints of lemon zest. On the palate, lush notes of apricot, crisp green apple, and a touch of toasted hazelnut come forward. This wine has a well-balanced mouthfeel that dances on the palate with bright, lively acidity and subtle minerality, offering a stunning
expression of a coastal driven Chardonnay.
Fragrant aromas of yellow peach and ripe melon are found on the nose, interspersed with bright citrus notes. These continue on the palate with notes of creamy vanilla and buttery nuances on the long finish. Rombauer's signature bright acidity is evident throughout each sip, balancing the softness of the midpalate.
Pairings for this wine include crab cakes, barley risotto, and strawberry shortcake.
Review:
"Layers of citrus, yellow apples, pastry and stone fruit with an underlying smoky, saline edge, showing freshness underneath the power. The rich palate offers a rounded mouthfeel and a bright line of acidity that cuts through the generous texture. Full-throttle with weight and depth, but very enjoyable old-vine character from 1982. Drink or hold."-James Suckling 93 Points
Cattail Creek Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
The cool maritime influence of the Sonoma Coast appellation is on full display in this elegant Pinot Noir. Aromas of fresh cherry, raspberry, and violet give way to a silky, medium-bodied palate with layers of red fruit, subtle earthy notes, and gentle spice. The wine's bright natural acidity and fine-grained tannins create a beautifully balanced structure, making it a versatile companion at the table. Enjoy now or cellar for 3-5 years.
Ferren Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
100% native fermentation (primary and secondary), long cool fermentations often lasting up to a full year, minimal lees stirring, no additions of any kind (commercial yeast, water, acid, enzymes, etc., never any fining or filtration). Aged 18 months in 15% new French oak (Francois Freres, Vosges, Troncais Forrests)
Review:
-Audrey Frick (Jeb Dunnuck) 98 Points
-Erin Brooks (Robert Parker) 96 Points
Merryvale Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2022 is made from Pinot Noir.
From the cool, fog-swept vineyards of the Sonoma Coast — including fruit from the celebrated Durell and Sunchase sites — this is Merryvale's elegant, Burgundian-minded take on California Pinot Noir. A mix of Dijon and heritage clones (667, Pommard, 777 and 828) was largely destemmed, fermented with native yeasts, and aged about ten months in roughly 40% new French oak — restraint that lets the fruit lead. Expect a perfumed, silky glass: black cherry, raspberry and dark berry lifted by forest floor, cola spice and a whisper of graham cracker, with bright acidity and fine, polished tannins carrying a long finish. Lovely now and over the next decade.
Winery Info: Merryvale Vineyards was founded in 1983 and makes its home in the historic Sunny St. Helena winery on Main Street — a stone landmark built in 1933 as the first winery raised in the Napa Valley after Prohibition, and the cellar where Robert and Peter Mondavi first made wine with their father, Cesare. The Schlatter family has owned and run Merryvale since the 1990s, today led by René Schlatter. At its heart lies the Historic Cask Room, where two stories of century-old 2,000-gallon oak casks line the walls. Four decades on, Merryvale remains a quintessential St. Helena house.
Review:
A wonderful interplay of brightness and savoriness captures the elegance of wines from the Sonoma Coast. Aromas of crushed red raspberries, sauteed mushrooms and wild blackberries. On the palate there’s red fruit and black pepper, with bright, crunchy acidity and taut tannins. The finish is long, with umami flavors. Medium-bodied. Drink or hold.
-James Suckling 94 Points
Kosta Browne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir is made from 100 percent Pinot Noir.
Dark cherry, raspberry, and elderberry intertwine with intriguing hints of fresh basil, and pomegranate. Decadent fruit flavors unfold, showcasing remarkable acidity with dynamic structure and an enduring finish.
Our Appellation Series wines embody our unwavering commitment to exploration and the artistry of crafting soulful, thought-provoking wines that pay homage to the world’s extraordinary terroirs.
The Sonoma Coast is the largest appellation in Sonoma County, strongly influenced by its proximity to the ocean and heavy rainfall—producing more than twice the annual amount of its inland neighbors.
Our Sonoma Coast vineyards span the northern true coastal zone and the southern edge of the appellation. This distinctive blend is made from 11 different clones, fermented in predominantly stainless steel, and aged for 16 months in 38% new oak. The resulting wine has an energetic acidity with cascading layers of black cherry and elderberry, followed by a lasting finish.
Fact of Note: This Sonoma Coast blend was the longest to ferment in stainless steel from our Appellation Series.
Review:
-Decanter World Wine Awards 94 Points
Dog Bone is a serious wine with a fun label!
We wanted to make a great wine at a fair price and help dogs across the country. 10% of all profits will go to Humane Societies in places we sell Dog Bone. Sales of this wine are also helping North Coast Grape farmers by finding a home for their excess grapes.
The 2024 growing season delivered ripe, clean fruit with great flavors. The nose has notes of Cherry blossom and Rose hips. On the palate the wine shows ripe Black Cherry and Cola notes and has beautiful balance.
pH: 3.75g/L
TA: 5
ABV: 13.5%
This classy and poised Pinot Noir displays an array of dark berry notes, including raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, and ripe cherry, along with a hint of baking spices. Balanced tension and refined tannins on the palate make the wine both elegant and effortlessly delicious, with subtle flavors of cedar and cassis lingering on the finish.
Review:
-James Suckling 93 Points
-Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points
Aiurri Salas Rioja is made from 80% Tempranillo and 20% Field Blend
Aroma: Very expressive on the nose, with good complexity, red fruit and fresh black fruit, spices and wild herbs. Flavor: Combination of freshness and complexity. Pleasant tannins, lots of fruit, long finish with great persistence. Color: Black Cherry with a Violet rim.
Review:
-Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
-James Suckling 94 Points
-Tim Atkin 93 Points
-Joaquín Hidalgo (Vinous) 93 Points
Clos du Val Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 is made from Cabernet Sauvignon.
The Wine
This is Clos du Val's Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon — the house's classically styled, broadly sourced Cabernet drawn from vineyards across the valley floor and surrounding benches. The 2023 is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec and 4% Petit Verdot. It pours a deep ruby and opens with pure cassis and black cherry lifted by graphite, tobacco leaf, sweet brown spice and a whisper of cured herbs. Medium- to full-bodied and beautifully balanced, it is firm without ever turning hard, with fine-grained tannins, bright acidity and a long, silky, cocoa-dusted finish. A polished, food-friendly Napa Cabernet that drinks wonderfully now and will hold comfortably into the early 2030s — and, at this price, one of the genuine values in classic Napa Valley Cabernet.
Winery Info
Clos du Val was founded in 1972 in the Stags Leap District of Napa Valley by French-born winemaker Bernard Portet and American proprietor John Goelet. Portet grew up at Château Lafite-Rothschild, where his father was technical director, and he set out to make Napa wines in a restrained, ageworthy Bordeaux idiom rather than the bigger, riper California style of the day. The bet paid off almost at once: at the legendary 1976 Judgment of Paris, Clos du Val's debut 1972 Cabernet was one of only a handful of California reds chosen to stand against first-growth Bordeaux — and in the celebrated ten-year rematch of that tasting, it finished first of all the wines. More than fifty years on, Clos du Val remains one of Napa's benchmark houses, its wines prized for elegance, balance and a graceful capacity to age. The engraving of the Three Graces on the label is a nod to the harmony the family has always chased in the glass.
Review:
Refined and earth-driven, showing tightly wound black-fruit aromas. The palate is focused and pure with finely tuned tannins and a generous yet precise palate. A lovely wine to drink now or cellar.
James Suckling, 94 Points