Mullineux Granite ‘Eikelaan’ Chenin Blanc 2023

Kleur: licht goudgeel
Geur: bloesem, fynbos, abrikoos, witte perzik, hint van groene thee, venkel, complex.
Smaak: vol en fris, ziltig, goede zuren, geconcentreerd, enorme lengte
Houdbaar: nu op dronk, zal zeker tot eind 2040 lekker blijven
Lekker bij: Ceviche. Goede sushi. Pittige gerechten uit de Aziatische keuken. Pasta met wat witte truffel. Franse roodflora kaas.

TASTING NOTES
The cooler evenings of the 2023 growing season worked in unison with the GRANITE soils to develop up-front aromas of citrus blossom, summer fynbos and hints of green tea. The mid-palate is driven by minerality  and vibrancy. As to be expected from its GRANITE soils, this wine will have a long, slow, linear progression as it ages and will provide the most drinking pleasure if decanted. – Andrea Mullineux  

Greg Sherwood MW 97/100
This beautiful 1976 old vine Chenin Blanc serves up a wonderful array of flavours in this “classic Swartland vintage” in 2023. Normally lean, reductive and incredibly tight grained and mineral, this year’s expression of the Granite Chenin Blanc boasts a wealth of rich yellow stone fruits and plenty of white flowers, fynbos, sour plum, peach and yellow citrus perfume. There is definitely more density, palate breadth and depth while retaining its telltale linear, taut, mineral demeanour. Despite being a turbo charged expression, the 2023 Granite Chenin Blanc still has the highest acidity of the three single terroir wines, finely balancing intense bruised yellow orchard fruit and orange marmalade notes on the palate. The finish is super pure and concentrated, deliciously tangy and superbly balanced. A real beauty to drink now and over the next 10 to 15+ years.

WineMag 96/100
Grapes from a Paardeberg vineyard planted in 1976. Top notes of floral perfume and fynbos before pear, peach and citrus on the nose. The palate has a linearity and marked freshness about it – dense fruit making for good weight on the mid-palate, the finish savoury and slightly grippy. Harmonious and wonderfully detailed. Alc: 14%.

Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report, 95/100
Eikelaan is a dry-farmed Chenin Blanc from the Paardeberg, whose deep roots enable it to survive and prosper in the Swartland’s dry climate. Showing the concentration of its 42-year old vines, it has summer meadow and white flower aromas, peach, aniseed and wet stone flavours and a rich, textured finish. 2024-29

Vinous 93/100
‘Nicely balanced and very complex’

Platter’s ***** 95/100 
Identical handling for these chenins to express site & grape: picked at same ripeness, bunch pressed, fermented/11 months unstirred in older barrique, bottled unfiltered. 2023 from 40+ year Paardeberg vines & showing expected old-vine richness, density & weight while remaining focused & taut. Wonderful purity of yellow stonefruit & citrus, whiteflower & fynbos fragrances make it all the more special.

Vineyard Details:
Hailing from a 47-year-old dry land bush vine vineyard named Eikelaan (“lane of Oak trees”), our GRANITE Chenin Blanc, is our highest altitude Granite soil vineyard on the Paardeberg. Due to its root formations being able to travel quite deep in the decomposed granite terroir, the canopies remain full and provide cool shade to both the fruit and the vines, thus safeguarding them from temperature fluctuations and sun. This in turn culminates in a Swartland Chenin Blanc with great elevated freshness, retention of perfume and linear ageing.

Winemaking:
Harvested by hand in the cool early morning hours, the grapes were whole-bunch pressed to barrel and the juice handled oxidatively, ensuring longevity of the wine once in bottle. Primary and secondary fermentation completed its natural respective cycles without any interference, after which minimal SO2 was added and, in line with our ethos, no further additions were made. The wine was left on the lees in its respective barrels until spring, then racked and blended just before the 2024 vintage and bottled unfiltered.

Maturation:
This wine was matured for 10 months in 4th fill 225L French oak barrels.