Mullineux Iron ‘Rondomskrik’ Chenin Blanc 2023

Kleur: licht goudgeel
Geur: zeste, rokerig, vuursteen, oranjebloesem, abrikoos, meloen, complex.
Smaak: vol en rondeur, flink ziltig, goede zuren, krachtig, sappig, 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.

The IRON Chenin Blanc sees the highest natural extract of our three main Single Terroir white wines which lends to its upfront aromatics, a lower sugar-to alcohol conversion as well as focused acidity. During December, just before harvest, these deep clay soils retain water and inhibit excess moisture uptake in the berries which in turn enhances its concentration. Notable yellow orchard summer fruits, fresh orange peel and a slight flintiness welcome one on the nose, with a multi-layered palate and slightly saline finish that round off this beautifully textural wine.

Tasting Note:
The IRON Chenin Blanc sees the highest natural extract of our three main Single Terroir white wines which lends to its upfront aromatics, a lower sugar-to-alcohol conversion as well as focused acidity. During December, just before harvest, these deep clay soils retain water and inhibit excess moisture uptake in the berries which in turn enhances its concentration. Notable yellow orchard summer fruits, fresh orange peel and a slight flintiness welcome one on the nose, with a multi-layered palate and slightly saline finish that round off this beautifully textural wine. Its ageability is sure to exceed two decades, and it is thus recommended that the wine is decanted when opened young.

Greg Sherwood MW 95+/100
Only the third vintage of the Iron single terroir Chenin Blanc produced (with the Quartz vineyard still going into the Old Vine White blend), this vineyard grown on a little knowl or hill, with persistent winds making for naturally small berries with a notable richness and ripeness, and also making this the earliest ripening of all the single vineyard sites. The aromatics are once again loaded with plenty of stone fruit complexity, beautifully perfumed with fragrant white flowers, honeydew melon, waxy orange peel, pineapple rock candy and a seductive soap stone minerality. A very confident wine showing great palate symmetry, a tight core of yellow fruits and hints of savoury lees, finishing with a lovely cool, lime lemon peel pith on the tangy fresh finish. A vibrant, harmonious wine that once again shows the highest levels of dry extract. Drink on release and over the next 10+ years. 

Tim Atkin 97/100
Up there with the best-ever bottlings of Iron Chenin Blanc, this hails from a very windy site on red clay soils that is usually picked before the other two terroir-specific Mullineux bottlings. Grippy, ferrous, salty and intense, it has lots of extract, a hint of tannin, notes of citrus, lanolin and gunflint and a pithy, mouth-watering finish. 2025-30

WineMag 95/100
Exotic aromatics of orange, stonefruit, melon and pineapple plus a leesy note. The palate is rich and smooth textured despite a moderate alcohol of 13%. Tangy acidtity lends balance while the palate is gently savoury.

Vinous 91/100
‘plenty of depth and extract’

Winemaking:
This vintage being only the second ever release of the IRON Chenin Blanc, was managed in the cellar with the same attention to detail and careful handling of the delicate and tiny yield, as all our other wines. Both the primary and secondary fermentations spontaneously started and finished with indigenous yeast and a very small amount of sulphur was added once the natural settling of the wine had completed.

Maturation:
This wine was matured for 11 months in 4th fill 225L French oak barrels.