Mullineux Single Terroir new releases

It’s fascinating how different winemakers react to the Western Cape’s extended drought, Andrea and Chris Mullineux’s Single Terroir wines seemingly as assured as ever.

Mullineux Granite Chenin Blanc 2016
Wine Cellar price: R530
Grapes from two Paardeberg vineyards. A top note of fresh herbs before white peach and yellow earth on the nose. Great fruit purity and an exhilarating line of acidity plus some phenolic texture. Layers of flavour and a long, salty finish.

Editor’s rating: 95/100.

Mullineux Quartz “Leliefontein” Chenin Blanc 2016
Price: R525
Grapes from a Kasteelberg vineyard. Yellow peach, pineapple and some yeasty complexity. Makes a big impression on the palate – extremely concentrated fruit, tangy acidity and quite chewy in texture.

Editor’s rating: 93/100.

Mullineux Granite Syrah 2015
Wine Cellar price: R985
From a Paardeberg vineyard. Red and black fruit, fynbos and lilies on the nose. Supremely elegant and composed on the palate with pure fruit, fresh acidity and fine tannins.

Editor’s rating: 95/100.

Mullineux Schist “Roundstone” Syrah 2015
Wine Cellar price: R985
From the Mullineux’s Riebeeksrivier Road property. A compelling nose of black fruit, olive, smoked meat, pepper and spice. Weightless intensity on the palate – great depth of fruit, fresh acidity and an intricate lattice work of tannins. The finish is profoundly savoury evoking the essence of umami.  Sticks in the memory days after tasting it.

Editor’s rating: 96/100.

Mullineux Iron Syrah 2015
Wine Cellar price: R985
From a vineyard west of Malmesbury. Red and black fruit plus pepper and a little earth. Rich and relatively broad with chewy tannins. Open and expressive but still really together, this vintage is by far the best wrought to date.

Editor’s rating: 95/100.