JEB DUNNUCK 95 POINTS - "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."
"The ruby-hued 2023 Royal St. Robert is a selection from their coastal vineyards and is named to honor their grandfather. It opens to notes of wild raspberries, brushy windswept herbs, rose petals, dark stones, and elegant spices. Medium-bodied, it has a good deal of depth on the palate. Drink over the coming 15 years. It has 100% whole clusters in this vintage, and it has a bit of that stemmy spice, but it’s very well managed."
WINE SPECTATOR 94 POINTS - "This is stylish, with a gently singed sandalwood frame around a core of light damson plum and bitter cherry fruit mixed with rose hip, savory and cherry pit hints. The finish is taut, with a lightly stemmy nuance to it, giving this lingering tension. Best from 2026 through 2031."
ANTONIO GALLONI 93 POINTS - "The 2023 Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert is redolent of floral, savory and citrus notes. I find it especially brilliant and crystalline. At the same time, the 2023 is pretty tightly wound. Rose petal, iron, tea leaves, incense and dried herbs open nicely with some coaxing, The colder growing season brings out the slightly gamier, wilder side of Pinot Noir along with plenty of brightening acidity in this mid-weight, taut Pinot from Raen. I would give this a year or two in bottle at a minimum."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 93 POINTS - "The 2023 Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert bursts from the glass with pure scents of cranberry, blood orange, Angostura bitters and cola, and as it spends time in the glass, it begins to reveal compelling foresty undertones. The medium-bodied palate is silky and bright with concentrated, crunchy flavors, vibrant acidity and a long, perfumed finish."
"The ruby-hued 2023 Royal St. Robert is a selection from their coastal vineyards and is named to honor their grandfather. It opens to notes of wild raspberries, brushy windswept herbs, rose petals, dark stones, and elegant spices. Medium-bodied, it has a good deal of depth on the palate. Drink over the coming 15 years. It has 100% whole clusters in this vintage, and it has a bit of that stemmy spice, but it’s very well managed."
WINE SPECTATOR 94 POINTS - "This is stylish, with a gently singed sandalwood frame around a core of light damson plum and bitter cherry fruit mixed with rose hip, savory and cherry pit hints. The finish is taut, with a lightly stemmy nuance to it, giving this lingering tension. Best from 2026 through 2031."
ANTONIO GALLONI 93 POINTS - "The 2023 Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert is redolent of floral, savory and citrus notes. I find it especially brilliant and crystalline. At the same time, the 2023 is pretty tightly wound. Rose petal, iron, tea leaves, incense and dried herbs open nicely with some coaxing, The colder growing season brings out the slightly gamier, wilder side of Pinot Noir along with plenty of brightening acidity in this mid-weight, taut Pinot from Raen. I would give this a year or two in bottle at a minimum."
ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE 93 POINTS - "The 2023 Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert bursts from the glass with pure scents of cranberry, blood orange, Angostura bitters and cola, and as it spends time in the glass, it begins to reveal compelling foresty undertones. The medium-bodied palate is silky and bright with concentrated, crunchy flavors, vibrant acidity and a long, perfumed finish."
