RAEN, Pinot Noir, Seafield Vineyard, Fort Ross, Sonoma, California, 2018

Overview of the Wine
As winemakers and farmers, Carlo and Dante attribute a great deal of what they have learned to their grandfather Robert and father Tim, both whom influenced them from a young age.

Carlo and Dante’s father Tim was a pioneer for California Pinot Noir in the early 1970s and has always had a tremendous regard for the great wines of Burgundy. To this day his Pinot Noirs from the 1970s are showing incredibly well. Carlo and Dante credit their father’s passion for Pinot Noir as the early inspiration that got them excited at a young age.

Dante studied abroad in Switzerland at the Webster University in Genève as well at UC Davis in California. Carlo studied in France at the University of Aix-en-Provence and in Italy at the University of Milan. After their formal studies were complete Carlo and Dante continued their educational work with the winemaking team lead by their father Tim Mondavi at Robert Mondavi Winery and Opus One.

When Robert Mondavi Winery was sold in 2004, the brothers joined their father Tim, Aunt-Marcia and grandfather Robert as they founded Continuum in 2005.

In 2013 Carlo and Dante founded RAEN winery with the goal to produce world class Pinot Noir on the western hills of the Sonoma Coast. RAEN currently focuses on making three Pinot Noirs, from three unique sites on the Sonoma Coast.

Grape / Blend
Pinot Noir

Origin
Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Rose petals, blood orange pith, crushed raspberry, wild strawberry, and wet rock bordering the forest fill the bowl. White tea, sea moss, rhubarb, savory herbs, forest berries, and floral tones linger on your palate with a long and seemingly everlasting finish.

94 Points - James Suckling
An extremely aromatic pinot with iodine undertones to the bright strawberry aromas and flavors. Some seaweed. It’s medium-to full-bodied with creamy tannins and an extremely long finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Better after 2023.

92 Points- Vinous
The 2018 Pinot Noir Sea Field is not fully expressive today. The bouquet is promising, but the 2018 is much less forthcoming on the palate. It will be interesting to see if time in bottle helps things come together more fully, as the 2018 is pretty hard to read at this stage. Even so, it does appear to be rather light in structure and depth. Drinking window: 2022 - 2030

Product size: 750ml