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% Syrah

Vineyard details:
The fruit for our GRANITE Syrah hails from bush vines planted in the decomposed Granitic soils of the Paardeberg and this wine has become our Single Terroir red most synonymous with gorgeous perfumed aromatics, freshness and length. These characteristics are mainly driven by each vine having to work intensely hard to get to the water source seated deep within the GRANITE structure.

Dates Harvested:
The GRANITE Syrah was hand-harvested on 21st and 22nd February 2022 with yields of five tons/ha, which translated to 28HL/ha.

Winemaking:
The grapes benefitted from the protection of a cool early morning picking and were put into 500L French oak open top fermenters whole-bunched. Once crushed by foot, the indigenous fermentation process started, and very gentle extraction was achieved by doing punch-downs by hand. To accentuate the refined tannin structure of its GRANITE terroir origin, the wine was given skin contact for 28 days before being gravitationally drained and then pressed back into the same vessels for malolactic fermentation and further maturation.

Maturation:
This wine was matured for 12 months in French oak 500L barrels of which 50% was new, followed by 10 months in 2000L Foudre. Once bottled, the wine was aged for another eight months before it was released.

Bottling Date: 6th November 2023
Production: 5 513 bottles / 459 cases & 130 Magnums
Wine of Origin: Swartland

Technical Details at Bottling:
Alcohol 13.5% – RS 2.2 g/l – TA 5.5 g/l – pH 3.67

The ripening season of this vineyard saw fair weather conditions, resulting in the naturally balanced fruit purity, chalky tannins and enhanced aromatics present in this wine. The shaded canopy of this deep-rooted GRANITE Syrah contributed to hints of white Lily and light spice on the nose, red berry compote on the palate and a stony minerality on the finish. The wine will age at least 25 years and decanting is recommended when this wine is opened young.

Tim Atkin– 96 points