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 hand-harvested on 2nd and 3rd February 2023 with a yield of
4 tons/ha, which translated to 24HL/ha.

Winemaking:
This vintage being only the third ever release of the IRON Chenin Blanc, was managed in the cellar with the same attention to detail and careful handling of the delicate and tiny yield, as all our other wines. Both the primary and secondary fermentations spontaneously started and finished with indigenous yeast and a very small amount of Sulphur was added once the natural settling of the wine had completed.

Maturation:
This wine was matured for 11 months in 225L French oak barrels

Bottling Date: 16th January 2024
Production: 6344 bottles / 528 cases
Wine of Origin: Swartland

Technical Details at Bottling:
Alcohol 13.5 % – RS 1.9 g/l – TA 5.6 g/l – pH 3.40

The IRON Chenin Blanc sees the highest natural extract of our three main Single Terroir white wines which lends to its upfront aromatics, a lower sugar-to-alcohol conversion as well as focused acidity. During December, just before harvest, these deep clay soils retain water and inhibit excess moisture uptake in the berries which in turn enhances its concentration. Notable yellow orchard summer fruits, fresh orange peel and a slight flintiness welcome one on the nose, with a multi-layered palate and slightly saline finish that round off this beautifully textural wine. Its age-ability is sure to exceed two decades, and it is thus recommended that the wine is decanted when opened young.

Tim Atkin– 97 points