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:
The home of Mullineux, Roundstone Farm, has become synonymous with our SCHIST soils, where these Chenin Blanc bush vines flourish due to the well-suited appellation, as well as being consistently sustainably farmed. These rocky soils limit vine size and so the clusters and individual grapes in turn remain smaller with a higher skin to juice ratio. This contributes to the structure of this wine and with each vintage mirror the freshness and pure sunshine that define our SCHIST Chenin Blanc.

Dates Harvested:
The grapes were hand-harvested between 7th and 8th February 2023 with a yield of 5 tons/ha, which translated to 30HL/ha.

Winemaking:
Carefully picked during the cool daybreak, the fruit was whole-bunched pressed to barrel where fermentation started spontaneously. Once all the natural yeast and microbes completed their predestined purpose, the wine was left to voluntary settle on its own. This Chenin Blanc spent seven months on its lees in barrel, ensued by racking, blending and unfiltered bottling to further showcase its Swartland SCHIST characteristics.

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

Bottling Date: 16th January 2024
Production: 4541 bottles / 378 cases
Wine of Origin: Swartland

Technical Details at Bottling:
Alcohol 14.0% – RS 1.7 g/l – TA 6.3 g/l – pH 3.35

The 2023 growing season cool and long with no heat spikes, which contributed to the inviting phenolic balance, full palate and jubilant freshness that you would come to expect from SCHIST soils in these growing conditions.
Highlighted by fresh quince, white peach and hints of lime, the nose of this Chenin Blanc is greatly inviting, and it follows through with a firm chalky texture and a lively, zesty finish. The ageing potential is at least 20 years, and this wine will show optimally if decanted.

Tim Atkin– 94 points