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Anthony Gismondi on Wine
Carter Mollenhauer Aurora D'Itata Cinsaulttext
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Carter Mollenhauer Aurora D'Itata Cinsault 2021

Itata Valley, ChileHusband and wife team Edgard Carter and Karine Mollenhauer run their family winery in the Maule, making a few small-production wines from indigenous grapes. Their idea is to elevate the reputation of purity and authenticity of Chilean wine through organic farming, and minimal intervention in the cellar. Two vineyards from Guarilihue Alto are used in this village level Cinsault, with dry farmed ungrafted bush vines planted in 1950 and 1955, and rooted in quartzic granite at 225m. It was native fermented, foot-trodden and whole cluster in concrete vat prior to aging 8 months in older French barrels. A puff of reduction upon opening blows off quickly, leading into wild plum, wild blackberry, boysenberry, scrubby herbs / thorns, dried rosemary. Sticky, grippy tannins hold this tight on sides, with an alluring granitic grip texturing. Lovely authentic, fresher view of the grape. 2304 bottles.Tasted: 02 March 2023Tasted by: Treve RingPrices:
ON$36.00750mlconsignment
Producer: Carter MollenhauerDistributors: Le Sommelier Inc.
Grape: Cinsault