2023 RAEN - Chardonnay Sonoma Coast Lady Marjorie (750ml)

RAEN Winery was founded in 2013 by brothers Carlo and Dante Mondavi, the sons of Tim Mondavi and grandsons of Robert Mondavi, after the pair spent years working alongside their father on the family's Continuum project in Napa. Wanting to carve out their own identity, they turned to the rugged, fog-drenched hills of the West Sonoma Coast to focus on cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Lady Marjorie bottling honors their grandmother, whose determination the brothers credit as a lasting influence on the path that led them here.

This cuvée blends fruit from select barrels sourced from two standout sites along the westerly Sonoma Coast, Fort Ross-Seaview and the Freestone-Occidental area, both known for their rocky, mineral-rich soils and marine-cooled growing conditions. The grapes are whole cluster pressed and fermented with native yeasts directly in barrel, a hands-off approach designed to preserve the transparency and tension that these remote, wind-swept vineyards are known for.

The wine opens with lemon zest, crushed gravel, white and yellow flowers, honeysuckle, and just-ripe nectarine. On the palate, lime blossom and stone fruit unfold over a backbone of wet rock minerality and a subtle salinity, carrying through to a long, vivid finish. It pairs beautifully with seared diver scallops, a wild mushroom tart, or a soft, bloomy-rind cheese.