RAEN, Royal St. Robert Cuvée Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, California, 2024

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.

Winemakers
Carlo and Dante Mondavi

Grape / Blend
Pinot Noir

Origin
Sonoma Coast, Sonoma County, California

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
The wine opens to opulent aromas of rose petals, wild strawberry, savory herbs and the edge of a coastal forest nearing a springtime meadow. This is followed by red cherry, raspberry plum, blood orange marmalade, rose petals and thyme. Layers of coastal forest floor with mushroom laced foliage, rosemary, sea moss and ripe cherries add a unique depth and earthy character, while a vibrant core of red and black berries carry through the palate. The finish is lifted by spice and coastal freshness, leaving a long and youthful impression.

94 Points - Vinous
The 2024 Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert is fabulous. Deeply pitched spice notes, blood orange, new leather, cedar ans sweet pipe tobacco meld into a core of sweet cherry fruit, mint, spice and cedar. This is one of the finest vintages of the Royal St. Robert I have ever tasted, going all the way back to Raen's early days. 

Product size: 750ml