Raen Fort Ross-Seaview Charles Ranch Chardonnay, Fort Ross-Seaview, USA 2023

In a remote, raw territory where the forest and meadows meet the Pacific Ocean is where the story of RAEN begins. These hills of the Sonoma Coast provide a diversity of soil, elevation and climate that allow for wines of incredible expression, elegance and length.

This hillside site in rugged Fort Ross-Seaview sits at 1,200 feet in elevation, only a couple of miles inland from the Pacific Ocean and just up the road from our Sea Field estate. The vines, planted over 40 years ago, represent some of the oldest plantings of chardonnay on the Coast. Sitting atop well-drained, rocky soils, the yields are naturally low, giving wines of incredible depth, concentration and minerality.

The 2023 vintage leads with aromas of wet rock, fresh white flowers, chamomile blossom, and summer apricot. These aromas are followed by just-ripe white nectarine, lemon zest and a persistence of minerality with crushed seashells, wet rock, and a dash of sea salt. All of this comes together, transporting us to the site where these vines are rooted, giving way to a depth of flavors and aromas that provide a racy yet elegant finish.

" Planted in 1981 by the Martinelli family, the 2023 Chardonnay Charles Ranch is from a rocky site in Fort Ross-Seaview close to the coast. It’s made from all Wente clone and gets thicker skins, which contributes to its richness of texture. The nose is expressive and inviting, leading with notes of green apple candies. Full-bodied, it’s long and has compact intensity throughout, with an electric spine of acidity, and it’s fully dry but has glycerin richness and a long finish." Jeb Dunnuck 96