Mullineux Schist ‘Roundstone’ Chenin Blanc 2023

Kleur: licht goudgeel
Geur: kweepeer, rijpe abrikoos, witte perzik, hint van limoen, bloemig, anijs, complex.
Smaak: vol en sappig, verrassend ziltig fris, goede structuur, lekker bittertje, enorme lengte
Houdbaar: nu op dronk, zal zeker tot eind 2040 lekker blijven
Lekker bij: stevige, gekruide gerechten met wit vlees. Pittige gerechten uit de Aziatische keuken. Pasta met wat witte truffel. Franse roodflora kaas.

Grown in the Schist soils on Roundstone, the home of Mullineux, these sustainably farmed Chenin Blanc bush vines produce small clusters, tiny grapes, and thicker skins, which lend to the structure of this wine. Planted on a contour to conserve soil integrity and ensure erosion control, this wine exudes the exact sunshine, freshness and phenolic balance that define our SCHIST Chenin Blanc.

Tasting Note:
The 2023 growing season was cool and long with no heat spikes. This resulted in a wine with phenolic balance, full palate and jubilant freshness that you 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.

Greg Sherwood MW 97+/100
Produced from grapes grown in a vineyard just below the Mullineux’s main house on the Roundstone property on shallow rocky soils, with much smaller “bonsai-style” bush vines yielding small grapes loaded with extra phenolics and more exposure to the sunlight. The aromatics are rich, exotic, and intense, packed full of white and orange citrus, fynbos, nectarine, honey, white peaches, and juicy honeydew melon nuances. As Chris says, you can definitely taste the sunshine on the grapes with this 2023 Schist. The palate is equally intense and concentrated, boasting layer upon layer of peach, tangerine, and sour yellow plum fruit before a zesty, vibrant acidity kicks in to add freshness and extra frame to the mouthfeel. Finishing with a subtle leesy, buttered white toast complexity, this is definitely a very special premium Chenin Blanc release from the Mullineuxs. Drink on release and over the next 10 to 15+ years.

Platter’s ****(*) 93/100 
Like their syrah cousins, bushvines near Roundstone homestead produce smaller berries with higher skin:juice ratio, aiding tannin & texture. These attributes show as definite pithiness on long, zesty palate of 2023, alongside cream, toast & lees from well-judged maturation. Serious wine with enviable fruit intensity, plus enough juiciness for immediate pleasure.

WineMag 97/100
Citrus, nectarine, peach and fynbos on the nose while the palate possesses richness and texture but also focus and drive. Pure fruit and zesty acidity before a finish that has the slightly bitter quality that often gives this variety an extra dimension. Taut but not too lean. Alc: 14%.

Tim Atkin 94/100
The Schist Chenin Blanc comes from vines that are nearly ten years’ old on the Mullineux’s beautiful, organically certified Roundstone property. Subtle thatch and petrichor aromas segue into a palate of lemongrass, pear and patisserie spices, with negligible oak, good extract and a hint of bitter almond on the finish. 2025-30

Vinous 94/100
‘exquisite balance, great potential’

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.