2022 Raen Pinot Noir Freestone Occidental Bodega
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Grapes for the 2022 Pinot Noir Freestone Occidental Bodega Vineyard were harvested on September 7. It’s bursting with a mélange of wild strawberry, raspberry and blueberry, plus accents of black tea leaves, mushrooms, woodsmoke and cola. The medium-bodied palate is generous and silky with bitters-laced flavors and a long, seamless finish. 300 cases were made.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate
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The 2022 Pinot Noir Bodega comes from the smallest vineyard they work with, a western-facing vineyard of 1.8 acres, on the oldest meter-by-meter farmed vines on the coast in Freestone Occidental. In the glass, the wine is expressive and high-toned, with a light reductive note that gradually blows off, revealing notes of spiced cherries, alpine herbs, forest floor, and anise. It has the most serious and chiseled structure of the Pinot Noir offerings from Raen, with ripe tannins and a long, mouthwatering, mineral persistence, notes of dark stones, and ripe acidity. If opening soon, I would recommend decanting this one, but it’s certainly deserving of another year or more in a cool cellar. Drink 2026-2046. Carlo and Dante Mondavi founded RAEN in the West Sonoma Coast AVA with the goal of finding California Grand Cru-equivalent sites in the Freestone-Occidental area. Melanie McIntyre is leading the way as winemaker of this Pinot Noir-focused estate. The winery is located two miles from the ocean, and their wines are vibrant expressions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In the vineyard, they practice no-till farming and work beyond the requirements of organics, working toward eliminating the use of all chemicals in the vineyards. The 2021 vintage introduced the first cuvée of the Chardonnay Lady Marjorie, an homage to their grandmother and intended as the counterpoint to the Royal St. Robert tribute of Pinot Noir. All of the Pinot Noir production in the cellar sees 100% whole clusters going into fermentation, unless there are any issues with mold or further selection is needed.