2023 Freestone Pinot Noir Occidental Bodega

The 2023 Pinot Noir Bodega displays a darker hue in the glass. The most potent of the wines in the range, it improved over the few days that I tasted it. It reveals deep notes of forest floor in its aromas of mossy earth, dark berries, brambly resinous herbs, graphite, and wildflowers. It saturates the palate with medium to full-bodied richness and a dark mineral texture, with ripe tannins and purple flowers lasting on the finish. It offers a fantastic oceanic savory character and is a stunning wine to drink over the coming 20 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 and Chardonnay-focused estate, located two miles from the ocean. 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.

A superb wine, the 2023 Pinot Noir Bodega captures all the best the vintage had to offer. Seamless and elegant, the 2023 is an absolute delight. Blood orange, spice, mint, tobacco and dried flowers all build in the glass. The 100% stems are present but beautifully integrated. The 2023 is a superb wine for the year and for Raen. It has plenty of youthful, coastal energy, but is not quite as austere as the two other Pinots in the range. Stellar.