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:
Grown on the IRON soils of the rolling red hills surrounding Malmesbury, this organic vineyard is well-established on the clay and gravel-rich Koffieklip soils that are good at holding water. The soil-bed becomes generous during primary growth in the spring, but then around veraison time the clay in the soils stops releasing moisture and the vine compensates during this quick ripening phase by making the smallest grapes we have. This factor, combined with the lush canopy and medium-thick skins of the berries play a very important role in the natural construct of a Syrah with round tannins, an incredibly complex palate and deep fragrance.

Dates Harvested:
The grapes were hand-harvested on 8th February 2022 while the morning was still cool and yielded 4.5 tons/ha, which translated to 22HL/ha.

Winemaking:
In order to accentuate the IRON terroir, the grapes were foot-stomped as 100% whole-clusters into open top 500L barrels where hand punch-downs took place to encourage natural and very gentle extraction. The fermentation cycles completed with indigenous yeast and microbes and after a further four weeks of maceration, the wines were racked and pressed to these original vessels for its maturation period.

Maturation:
This wine was aged for 12 months in French oak 500L barrels, of which 50% was new, followed by another 10 months in 2000L Foudre and eight months of aging in bottle before its release.

Bottling Date: 6th November 2023
Production: 2616 bottles / 218 cases
Wine of Origin: Swartland

Technical Details at Bottling:
Alcohol 13.5% – RS 1.6 g/l – TA 5.1 g/l – pH 3.82

The IRON soils give us a Syrah that is rich and round, with gravely but plush tannins and yet for some reason this wine always has the lowest alcohol conversion for similar sugars across the Single Terroir (they are all picked at the same ripeness). The wine brims with flavours of dark plum, wild blueberry and hints of tomato leaf – and the full-bodied mid-palate, distinct charcuterie and chalky tannins are a true testament of its natural extract. The ageing potential is at least 25 years, and this Syrah would be best served decanted if opened young at a temperature of between 16 to 18 °C.

Tim Atkin– 95 points