Carter Mollenhauer 2020 'Aurora' Cinsault, Itata

Item Number: 18595

UPC: None

Country: Chile
Region: South Region
Sub Region: Itata
Appellation/AVA: Itata Valley
Estate Grown Wine: No
Vintage: 2020
Grape(s): 100% Cinsault
Type: Wine - Red
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Pack: 12
Closure: Cork
Alc by Vol(%): 13.5
Viticulture: Practicing Organic
Soil Type: Red granite
Elevation: 235 meters

Vineyard Notes: From a 0.5ha plot of 100% Cinsault planted in 1950 over red granite soils in the Guarilihue Alto subregion of the Itata D.O. Elevation is 235m and distance to the Pacific Ocean is 21km. These 70 year old bush vines are dry farmed on ungrafted rootstock.

Winemaking Notes: Hand harvested, fermented spontaneously with 80% whole clusters foot trodden in concrete vats. Continues aging in concrete tanks for 8 months. Bottled unfined, unfiltered, with minimal SO2 and only at bottling (25 mg/L).

Vintage Notes: 2020 harvest was exceptionally early, by 2 weeks - and warm like 2019. Drought conditions continue, as they have since 2017. The older vines could deal with this through 2019 harvest but are getting more stressed. The 2020 vintage thus has slightly higher ABV than previous years but fine tannins and showing great structure.

Tasting Notes: Dry, medium-bodied, grainy tannins, slight chalky/mineral sensation with a little flinty note making it serious and full of character. Full of floral and fruit aromatics on the nose. Finish is long and super tasty.

Reviews

  • The Wine Advocate
    Rating: 91+ (8/31/2021)
    The varietal and clean 2020 Aurora de Itata Cinsault has notes of cola nut and bright red berry fruit that makes it perfumed, attractive and pleasant. The palate is marked by the grainy granite tannins and a dry finish. This is 13.5% alcohol, reflecting a warmer vintage. It transported me to the place and soils.
  • Descorchados
    Rating: 92 (8/19/2022)

    Carter Mollenhauer buys the grapes for this Aurora from a vineyard planted more than 70 years ago by José Vera in the Guarilihue Alto area, in the Itata Valley. It was aged for 8 months in concrete containers with very little movement of the wine to gently extract the aromas and flavors. The wine has an earthy character that stands between the red fruit flavors that are classic of the variety. It is very soft, but at the same time with an acidic energy that acts as a structure. One to drink by the liter.