Mullineux Single Terroir releases 2019

The Single Terroir releases from Andrea and Chris Mullineux are interpretations of the different soils of the Swartland, the wines further carrying the name of the relevant vineyard where access to the grapes is guaranteed over the long term. Tasting notes and ratings for the two examples of Chenin Blanc from 2018 and the three examples of Syrah from 2017 as follows:

Mullineux Granite Chenin Blanc 2018
Wine Cellar price: R550
From two 42-year-old parcels on the Paardeberg. A very expressive nose with top notes of potpourri and hay before citrus and peach. The palate has lovely fruit concentration, driving acidity and some phenolic grip to the finish. Layers of flavour and great length. Yields were much reduced because of the drought, this leading to a wine of particular depth.

Editor’s rating: 95/100.

Mullineux Quartz Leliefontein Chenin Blanc 2018
Wine Cellar price: R550
From a single 37-year-old vineyard on the Kasteelberg. A top note of dried herbs before citrus and green apple. Lean and linear on the palate with “nervy” acidity and a pithy finish.

Editor’s rating: 94/100.

Mullineux Granite Syrah 2017
Wine Cellar price: R1 000
From a 23-year-old vineyard on the Paardeberg. Red fruit, lilies, cinnamon and white pepper on the nose. The palate is rich with seemingly quite moderate acidity and a smooth texture – has an opulence about it.

Editor’s rating: 93/100.

Schist hot.

Mullineux Schist Roundstone Syrah 2017
Wine Cellar price: R1 000
From a single 20-year-old vineyard on the Mullineux’s Kasteelberg farm. Some smoky reduction before red and black fruit, fynbos and black pepper on the nose while the palate is marked by excellent fruit definition, fresh acidity and fine yet simultaneously grippy tannins. Long and dry on the finish, this is becoming a SA benchmark example of the variety.

Editor’s rating: 96/100.

Mullineux Iron Syrah 2017
Wine Cellar price: R1 000
From a single 18-year-old vineyard west of Malmesbury. Sexy aromatics of red and black fruit plus rose, pelargonium and fresh herbs. Impressive fruit density, moderate acidity and powdery, mouth-coating tannins. Has a lovely succulence about it.

Editor’s rating: 96/100.

Find our South African wine ratings database here.