James Suckling 99 Points
An amazingly complex, dynamic wine that demands your attention from the first sniff to the lingering finish. Aromas of redwood forest, rosemary, purple flowers and black cherries, then black tea, pomegranate, dark cherry, dried raspberry and wild mushroom flavors. Fine-grained moderate tannins and crunchy acidity give it such a firm backbone. Drink now or hold.
Vinous 93 Points
The 2023 Raen Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs will give readers a good idea of what the vintage is all about, as they very much reflect the character of a growing season marked by higher-than-average rain and consistently cold temperatures. The Chardonnays are brisk and tightly wound, while the Pinots are intensely aromatic, vibrant wines that embody both the style of the year and the preference here to work with a high percentage of stems. Brothers Carlo and Dante Mondavi, along with Winemaker Melanie McIntyre, continue to turn out some of the most distinctive wines in Sonoma. The Mondavis recently signed a long-term lease on McDougall Ranch, a vineyard in the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA that other producers have vinified with notable success. It will be interesting to see what Raen does with this fruit.
