quicksearch
Anthony Gismondi on Wine
Carter Mollenhauer Los Despachos Petit Verdottext
91POINTS
16¾/20

Carter Mollenhauer Los Despachos Petit Verdot 2020

Valle de Cauquenes, Valle del Maule, Region del Valle Central, 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. A rarity in Maule, this Petit Verdot was planted in 2007 in alluvial gravel and quartz of Los Despachos, cooled by the Pacific Ocean which is 33 km away. It was native fermented and vinified partially whole cluster in stainless, prior to aging 19 months in older 225L French barrels and 13% in new 500L French demi-muids.  Heady and concentrated, but with intense ample acidity, this carries wild black cherry, black raspberry, bracketed by straight and upright tannins, and seasoned with salted violet, purple florals, potent graphite minerality, and wild mint through the saline finish. Not the easiest grape to handle solo, and they've nailed it here. 2848 bottles.Tasted: 02 March 2023Tasted by: Treve RingPrices:
ON$36.00750mlconsignment
Producer: Carter MollenhauerDistributors: Le Sommelier Inc.
Grape: Petit Verdot