2022 Fort Ross Seaview, Sea Field Vineyard Pinot Noir

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. 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.