Mullineux Iron Syrah 2017 (magnum)

Tasting Notes:
2017 was the 2nd vintage of the Great Drought in the Cape and overall yields were again significantly lower than normal. However, by improving soil health with cover crops and mulch and by reducing crops early, the resulting wines have lovely concentration but also wonderful freshness. The IRON is always the fullest bodied of our Single Terroir Syrahs. On the nose, the 2017 is spicy and savoury, with dark berries. The palate has soft, velvety yet firm tannins with hints of orange peel, cloves, white pepper. The wine is brooding, dense and alluring with a fresh and long finish. Best served at 16 to 18 °C. Ageing potential 15 – 25 years. Decanting recommended when opened young. Andrea Mullineux

Platter’s *****  97/100
Lily, tobacco & black pepper nuances, ferrous character from dryland Malmesbury hills vineyard with deep, iron-rich koffieklip (ferricrete) soil. 2017 less compact & athletic than siblings but has excellent muscle tone, will be stellar for next decade or more.

Tim Atkin SA Special Report 2019, 96/100
‘Iron has the highest clay content of the three soil-specific Mullineux Syrahs, as well as some ferrous grip, and tends to perform best in drought years. Plush, broad and complex, with palate-coating tannins, dark plum and blueberry fruit, scented oak and some clove spice from 100% whole bunches. One of a trio of superb Syrahs. 2022-32.’

Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 96/100
‘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.’ 

Vineyard Details:
Grapes for our 2016 IRON Syrah were sourced from a single parcel of 19-year old organically farmed dry land bush vines on the rolling iron-rich soils west of Malmesbury. This parcel of Syrah gives the best expression of the “koffieklip” terroir – broadness and mid-palate.

Winemaking:
Grapes were first chilled in our cold room then the whole bunches were put into open-top 500L French oak barrels and foot stomped to release some juice. Minimal SO2 was added and, as with all our wines, no further additions were made. After about 4 days, fermentation began with indigenous yeasts and lasted about 10 days. A further four weeks of skin contact was given after which the wine was drained and pressed to barrel for malolactic fermentation and maturation. We pigeaged once a day before, during and after fermentation. In Spring the wine was racked and after a total of 21 months in barrel was bottled unfiltered and unfined. 10 months of aging in bottle was then given before release.

Maturation:
12 months in French oak 500L barrels, 25% new, followed by 9 months in 2nd fill foudre.