Mullineux Wines, part of Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines, is a highly acclaimed winery established in 2007 by husband-and-wife team Chris and Andrea Mullineux. Located in the Swartland region, the winery is based at their organically farmed home estate, Roundstone, in the Riebeeksrivier-Valley ward.

The Mullineuxs are renowned for their focus on expressing the unique terroir of the Swartland, particularly through Syrah and Chenin Blanc. Their winemaking philosophy emphasizes sustainable farming practices and a minimalist approach in the cellar, utilizing indigenous yeasts and minimal intervention to produce authentic, site-expressive wines.

Mullineux has garnered significant international recognition, including being awarded Platter’s South African Winery of the Year an unprecedented five times (2014, 2016, 2019, 2020, and 2023). Andrea Mullineux was also named Wine Enthusiast’s International Winemaker of the Year in 2016. Their portfolio includes the “Signature” range (Old Vines White, Syrah, and Straw Wine), “Single Terroir” wines (Granite, Schist, and Iron Syrahs and Chenin Blancs), and the more accessible “Kloof Street” range.

Variety: 100% Chenin Blanc

Vineyard details:
Hailing from a 47-year-old dry land bush vine vineyard named Eikelaan (“lane of Oak trees”), our GRANITE Chenin Blanc, is our highest altitude Granite soil vineyard on the Paardeberg. Due to its root formations being able to travel quite deep in the decomposed granite terroir, the canopies remain full and provide cool shade to both the fruit and the vines, thus safeguarding them from temperature fluctuations and sun. This in turn culminates in a Swartland Chenin Blanc with great elevated freshness, retention of perfume and linear ageing.

Dates Harvested:
The grapes were harvested on the 16th of February 2023 with a yield of
4 tons/ha, which translated to 24HL/ha.

Winemaking:
Harvested by hand in the cool early morning hours, the grapes were whole-bunch pressed to barrel and the juice handled oxidatively, ensuring longevity of the wine once in bottle. Primary and secondary fermentation completed its natural respective cycles without any interference, after which minimal SO2 was added and, in line with our ethos, no further additions were made. The wine was left on the lees in its respective barrels until spring, then racked and blended just before the 2024 vintage and bottled unfiltered.

Maturation:
This wine was matured for 10 months in 225L French oak barrels

Bottling Date: 15 January 2024
Production: 5 846 bottles / 487 cases
Wine of Origin: Swartland

Technical Details at Bottling:
Alcohol 14.0 % – RS 1,8 g/l – TA 6.5 g/l – pH 3.30

The cooler evenings of the long 2023 growing season, worked in unison with the GRANITE soils to develop upfront yellow citrus blossom, summer fynbos and hints of green tea welcoming one’s senses. This leads to a gorgeous pithy and minerality-driven mid-palate and the ever-present vibrancy that our Single Terroir Chenin Blancs are known for. As to be expected from its reflective Granitic soils, this wine will boast a slow and extended linear progression as it ages and will provide the most drinking pleasure if decanted.

Tim Atkin– 95 points