Mullineux Old Vines White 2024 Swartland

Mullineux Old Vines White Blend: 68% Chenin Blanc, 14% Clairette Blanche, 6% Sémillon Gris, 6% Grenache Blanc, 6% Viognier

Kleur: goudgeel met groene weerschijn
Geur: na flink walsen mooi complex, citrus, grapefruit, abrikoos, mineralig, steranijs, tikje vanille
Smaak: dik en romig, voldoende frisheid, citrus, bloemig, klein noot-achtig bittertje, balans!
Houdbaar: op dronk, minimaal tot 2035 te bewaren
Lekker bij: gegrilde tonijn, zeevis met rijke saus, kalfsvlees, ravioli gevuld met pittige kaas, (Cape Malay) bobotie

Maturation:
11 months in 3rd to 5th fill French oak 500L barrels and two new 2000L foudres

Yield:
Between 2 to 5 tons/ha = 30 HL/ha average.

Tasting Note Andrea:
The incredible texture and backbone of this Swartland wine is brought by the low yielding, deeply rooted old-vine Chenin Blanc. The Clairette Blanche and Grenache Blanc add layers of salinity and freshness, while the Viognier and Sémillon Gris add to its inviting aromatics. Upfront aromas of fresh grapefruit zest and powdered ginger follow through to a complex palate with layers of white pear and nectarine, finishing with a long lingering, vibrant acidity. It is best served at 10 to 12 °C and will benefit from ageing. This wine is a vegan friendly wine.

Platter’s ***** (95/100) (oogst 2022)
Mostly chenin (72%) in 2022, with clairette, grenache blanc, viognier, semillon gris & verdelho, flagship white since 2008 (4.5 stars). Generous stonefruit, apple blossom, quince & pear combine with harmonious silky oak, 20% new barrel & foudre, 11 months. Elegant, poised & precise. Unfiltered. Ageworthy.

WineMag 95/100
68% Chenin Blanc 14% Clairette Blanche, 6% Semillon, 6% Viognier, 6% Grenache Blanc. The aromatics are expressive and compelling, with notes of pear, peach, citrus, fynbos, and earth. The palate reveals a dense core of fruit, balanced by zippy acidity, leading to a long, dry finish. Full of flavour with great texture—not greasy, but subtly grippy. Alc: 13.5%.

Robert Parker 93/100 (oogst 2023)
This is a blend of old-vine Chenin Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Grenache Blanc, Viognier and Semillon Gris. The Mullineux 2023 Swartland Old Vines White gives you a taste of South African winemaking excellence at a very interesting price. The vines are planted on granite soils with a beautiful layer of clay five meters down “that acts like a sponge,” Andrea Mullineax tells me. This helps to concentrate and enrich flavors of preserved lemon, saffron and pastry cream filling. With each variety coming to ripeness at a different time, the grapes are whole-bunch pressed and not co-fermented. The Chenin Blanc, from dry-land bush vines, plays an important role in determining the lasting texture of the wine. It matures in foudre and some barrique, with 10% new oak.