Carter Mollenhauer
Carter Mollenhauer
Maule Valley, Chile
Husband 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. Everything is done by hand, with gravity (instead of pumps), and native ferments.
Working internationally (California, Barossa, Côtes du Rhône) and throughout Chile (Don Melchor, Seña, and Viña Carmen), Edgar grew the need to rediscover the wines of his native country, so he could enjoy making and drinking the types of wines he discovered around the globe. They began the Carter Mollenhauer project in 2014.
AVAILABLE WINES
Carter Mollenhauer
Carter Mollenhauer
Aurora D’Itata Pais
Husband 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.
From Pachagua, in Itata, this is dry farmed ungrafted bush vine País, planted around 1800, making them 200ish years old. It is rooted in quartzic granite, around 100m. It was native fermented, with 90% whole cluster, and gently foot trodden before resting in 3000L concrete, (14% in 225L older French barrels) for 8 months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Quite light bodied and hued, this carries ample fragrant iris, wild plum, wild blueberry, tayberry along the slight palate, hugged with long, fine tannins. The salinity lingers long on the finish. So bright and finessed. 1,494 bottles.
Read about Carter Mollenhauer here.
Vintage: 2020
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $36
Style: Still
Appellation: DO Itata
Country: Chile
Grape: Pais
Colour: Red
Vegan: Yes
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: No
Natural: Yes
Low Intervention: Yes
Carter Mollenhauer
Carter Mollenhauer
Ribera Huenchullami Morros Costinos Pais
Husband 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.
Ribera Huenchullami is a side project with friends, and only a handful of bottles were made. This coastal vineyard is only 5.6km from the cool Pacific, and Edgar believes it to be the closest old vine País site to the coast in Chile. These dry farmed, ungrafted bush vines were planted in 1920 in mica schist soils. This was foot trodden whole cluster in open vat, native fermented, before a 6 months’ rest in French barrels. Buzzy quartz hums throughout, with a long, fine tannic grip sharpening wild plum, downy cherry, iris, lit with bright, brisk VA. Very saline on the unfined / unfiltered / hazy finish. Take with a light chill.
*The note below is from the 2020 vintage
"The new 2020 Morros Costinos País was produced with grapes from dry-farmed vines estimated to be 70 years old in the Valle de Huenchullamí in Maule. It has a nose of ripe grape skins, herbs and berries with something earthy and rustic. This matured in fourth use French oak barrels for six months, which has contributed to some spiciness. Only 435 bottles were filled in October 2020. Drink 2021-2024.” - 91 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate, August 31, 2021.
Read about Carter Mollenhauer here.
Vintage: 2021
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $36
Style: Still
Appellation: DO Maule
Country: Chile
Grape: Pais
Colour: Red
Vegan: Yes
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: No
Natural: Yes
Low Intervention: Yes
Carter Mollenhauer Cienaga
Carter Mollenhauer
Ciénaga de Name Carignan
Husband 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.
From the Ciénaga de Name vineyard, close to the coast, this dry farmed, ungrafted bush vine Carignan was planted in 2007 on decomposed red granite. This is partial whole cluster, fermented in stainless and native fermented prior to aging 20 months in French barrel. There are no sulphites used.
Heady, compact and concentrated, with brisk acidity easily leading iron, red cherry, black raspberry, wild mint, and scrubby herbs. Ample tannins are well integrated. Very stony on the lifted medicinal finish. Authentic and pure, at a welcome 13.5%. 3384 bottles.
Read about Carter Mollenhauer here.
Vintage: 2019
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $36
Style: Still
Appellation: DO Maule
Region: Cauquenes
Country: Chile
Grape: Carignan
Colour: Red
Vegan: Yes
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: No
Natural: Yes
Low Intervention: Yes
Carter Mollenhauer
Carter Mollenhauer
VIGNO Carignan
Husband 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.
From Truquilemu vineyard in Maule, this ungrafted bush vine Carignan was planted in 1950 at 225m, on granitic alluvial quartz soils. It’s a cool site that receives maritime freshness from the nearby Pacific. It was destemmed and fermented in vats, without sulphites. It aged 16 months in older 225L French barrels. Concentrated blackberry, medicinal black cherry, dark purple florals fill a compact, fleshy palate, with ample tannins stuck into the fruit. A stony freshness holds this aloft, and the welcome 13% keeps this food friendly (one for the grill). 2045 bottles.
Read about Carter Mollenhauer here.
Vintage: 2020
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $53
Style: Still
Appellation: DO Maule
Country: Chile
Grape: Carignan
Colour: Red
Vegan: Yes
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: No
Natural: Yes
Low Intervention: Yes
Carter Mollenhauer
Carter Mollenhauer
Aurora D'Itata Cinsault
Husband 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.
Read about Carter Mollenhauer here.
Vintage: 2021
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $36
Style: Still
Appellation: DO Itata
Region: Guarilihue Alto
Country: Chile
Grape: Cinsault
Colour: Red
Vegan: Yes
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: No
Natural: Yes
Low Intervention: Yes
Carter Mollenhauer
Carter Mollenhauer
Los Queules Cinsault
Husband 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.
This single vineyard, ungrafted, dry farmed bush vine Cinsault is their Cru from Guarilihue Alto. It was planted in 1955 in rocky soils at 265m. The wine was native fermented with 80% foot trodden whole clusters, and vinified slowly in a Chilean tinaja, with maceration lasting 138 days. It then aged 4 months in older barrels. There were no sulphites used during vinification or aging.
So fragrant, with lavender, rosemary, iris, wild mint, native pine. Salted, pitchy, and herbaceous. So intense, but so light, with lifted, finessed, expressive aromatics and long, fine tannins with ample salinity throughout, lingering on the finish. An intoxicating wine. 824 bottles.
“I love the nose and the fluidity of the bright ruby 2020 Los Queles Cinsault, which surprised me when I read 14% alcohol, as the wine feels lighter and less ripe, but it is terribly balanced and tasty. It was produced with grapes from a vineyard planted in 1955 in Guarilihue in Itata. It fermented with 80% full clusters that were foot trodden in tinaja, where it matured for four months and a further four in well-seasoned barrels. It's expressive and varietal, with typicity from the place. Only 824 bottles and 33 magnums were filled in December 2020. Drink 2021-2024.” - 92 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate, August 31, 2021.
Read about Carter Mollenhauer here.
Vintage: 2020
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $53
Style: Still
Appellation: DO Itata
Region: Guarilihue Alto
Country: Chile
Grape: Cinsault
Colour: Red
Vegan: Yes
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: No
Natural: Yes
Low Intervention: Yes
Address: Maule, Chile
Website: http://cmwines.cl
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Carter Mollenhauer
Carter Mollenhauer
Los Despachos Petit Verdot
Husband 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.
Read about Carter Mollenhauer here.
Vintage: 2020
Bottle Size: 750 mL
Bottles per Case: 6
Price per Bottle: $36
Style: Still
Appellation: DO Maule
Country: Chile
Grape: Petit Verdot
Colour: Red
Vegan: Yes
Organic: Yes
Biodynamic: No
Natural: Yes
Low Intervention: Yes