" We don't sell the wine without touching the vine "
Mullineux Swartland Syrah 2012
No longer available.
| Country: | United States |
| Region: | Swartland Region |
| Winery: | Mullineux Family Wines |
| Grape Type: | Syrah |
| Organic: | Yes |
| Vintage: | 2012 |
| Bottle Size: | 750 ml |
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Product Description
Mullineux Swartland Syrah 2012 is 100 percent Syrah
Winemaking:
Hand picked grapes are cooled in our cold room, where after they are crushed and destemmed to tank, and between 20 to 50% whole bunches are added. 25ppm SO2 is added, and as with all our wines, no other additions are made. The must is initially pigeaged once a day. After about 4 days, fermentation begins with indigenous yeasts, and the wine is pigeaged once or twice a day, depending on extract and tannin development. Temperatures are not allowed to exceed 30 degrees centigrade. Fermentation lasts from 7 to 10 days, and after fermentation, two to four weeks (also depending on tannin development) skin contact is given. The wine is then drained and pressed to barrel for malolactic fermentation and maturation. The different parcels are racked in Spring to blend the wine, which is then returned to barrel and bottled unfiltered and unfined after 11 months in barrel. Please decant (or give time!) when drunk young.
Maturation:
11 months, French oak 225L & 500L barrels, and 2000L Foudre. 15% new wood in total.
Tasting Note:
Black pepper, crushed ripe berry, and tobacco aromas linger on the nose. This juice is every bit of full-bodied on the palate. Well integrated tannin gives the wine a silky texture. Flavors of blackberry, herb, and spice layer throughout and into the long silky finish. This is a big wine that can take on another 10+ years of age and will need some serious decanting if consumed early. 30 minutes of decanting will allow the wine to open beautifully.
Review:
"If you're looking for an everyday Syrah that consistently delivers flavour and value for money, try this remarkable red, sourced from seven vineyard sites and three soil types. Violets, white pepper, iodine, lavender and red and black fruits are framed by fine tannins and refreshing acidity. Drink: 2014-20"
- Tim Atkin Master Wine (August 2014), 95 pts
he 2012 Mullineux Syrah comes from nine different vineyards that includes a couple of new parcels, 60% whole-bunch fermented, matured in 500-liter barrels of which 15% to 20% is new. It has a well-defined bouquet with dark berry fruit, blackcurrant, white pepper and a touch of cloves. The palate is structured with crisp acidity, vibrant blackberry and mulberry fruit with a stony, quite reserved finish that has a chalky texture. Very fine.
Chris and Andre’s Mullineux’s almost meteoric rise to the top of the South Africa tree has been both a pleasure to witness and judging by the quality of wine in the glass…fully justified. Ever since their Straw Wine was served blind against Château Yquem 1986, their portfolio of wines has gone from delivering Swartland at the highest level and with each passing season. While remaining relatively conservative to some of the region’s more “out there” exponents, they have become increasingly terroir-focused, as a cursory glance at their labels will demonstrate. At one end has been the storming success of the entry-level Kloof Street range, while at the top end the “Schist” and “Granite” labels are now joined by “Iron." Their ambitions meant that a change of backer was necessary and so Indian multimillionaire, Analjit Singh has stepped in. The company will be renamed "Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines" with Andrea and Chris retaining control. Mr Singh already owned three adjoining farms in Franschhoek, so doubtless the Mullineux's will be working on improving the wines from there.
Moving back to the wines, I was intrigued to learn that all the Syrah is picked at the same level of Brix and yet the natural yeast converts them to different levels of alcohol. On this visit, I finally had a chance to see the vineyards myself and share a cheeky sandwich before my next appointment. I asked Chris to summarize recent vintages. “The 2011 was our most sophisticated vintage,” he answered, “and 2010 more opulent and voluptuous. I think that 2012 harnesses those two together, but it is much more approachable than the 2010. It has fresh tannins that distinguish the 2012 reds.”
I hear that sales of Mullineux have been strong in the United States as well as here in the UK, where I can vouch for a loyal fan base. If you have not tried when of Mullineux’s wines, then the sooner the better. -Wine Advocate 90 Points
Winery: Mullineux Family Wines
The Mullineux Family Winery Estate
This is a small, highly focused family winery producing a select family of hand-crafted wines from the granite and shale based terroirs of the Swartland Region of South Africa.
Chris was born in Cape Town, raised in Johannesburg, and introduced to the world of wine while studying accountancy at the University of Stellenbosch. After braving his way through accounting, he enrolled into winemaking for a second degree, and on graduating took a position starting up a boutique organic winery in Tulbagh, where he was in charge of the vineyards and cellar for 5 very enjoyable years. In addition to stints at de Trafford and Rustenberg wineries in South Africa, Chris has also worked harvests at top wineries in Cote Rotie, Bandol, the Languedoc, Roussillon, and California. Over the years Chris has had good exposure to the people, vineyards and wines of the Swartland. This has lead to a growing love for, and firm belief in the region, and he looks forward to many creative and hard working vintages in this region with his family.
Andrea developed her passion for wine at the family dinner table, growing up in San Francisco. After studying Viticulture and Oenology at UC Davis and completing a handful of harvests in the Napa Valley, Andrea decided to broaden her winemaking knowledge overseas. After a harvest in Stellenbosch, she went on to work in Chateauneuf and, on the same trip, met Chris at a wine festival in Champagne! Andrea's love for South African wine (and Chris) brought her back to South Africa where they learnt that their compatibility extended into the vineyards and cellar. When Andrea is not hard at work in the cellar, her creative energies flow into the kitchen where she loves cooking up a storm, glass of wine in hand.
The Mullineux Family Winery Vineyards
Very low summer rainfall coupled with afternoon and evening breezes off the Atlantic Ocean result in low disease pressure. Vineyards are often planted in amongst the natural rhenoster veldt and fynbos, which provide refuge for predators of vineyard pests, and help reduce the spread of disease. Weeds struggle to establish themselves and spread, making it easier to control them without the need of herbicides.
Chris and Andrea have put together a group vineyards in the most interesting parts of the Swartland, which are mostly found around the shale and schist based Riebeek Kasteel Mountain, and the granite based Paardeberg mountain.
Lammershoek - The deep white, granitic soils on Lammershoek produce wines that are exceptionally pure, with a granitic perfume that shines through in red and white varieties.
Kasteelsig - The soils, found on the rolling hills north of Malmesbury, are a deep combination of red gravel and iron, and produce dark, concentrated wines that are the flesh of our blends.
Kloovenburg - The highly varied row directions and aspects bring much complexity to wines, and the high shale content of the soils gives serious structure, and brings an earthy spicy character to syrah planted in them.
Mountain View - The soils are shale based, which drain easily, reducing vigor and providing grapes of perfume, freshness and structure.
The vineyards are planted with grape varieties (which are mostly Mediterranean in origin) that are ideally suited to the environment, and are farmed sustainably and in harmony with their surroundings: Syrah, Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Viognier.
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