Mullineux Straw Wine Chenin Blanc 2021 (37,5 cl)

Mullineux Straw Wine Chenin Blanc
Kleur: goudgeel
Geur: bedwelmend, honing, bloesem, gedroogde abrikozen, rozijntjes
Smaak: superzoet met tegelijk frisse zuren, bloemenhoning, rozijnen, grapefruit, eindeloos complex
Houdbaar: nu op dronk, te bewaren tot in de eeuwigheid
Lekker bij: een dessert op zichzelf, toetjes met ananas of gedroogd fruit, kaasplankje met blauwe kaas en noten

Technical Details at Bottling: Alcohol 8.5 % – RS 330 g/l – TA 10.8 g/l – pH 3.19

Source of Grapes:
From one parcel of 40 years old Chenin on the stony Shale and Schist based soils of the Kasteelberg and one parcel of 44 year old dry land bush vine Chenin in the decomposed Granite of the Paardeberg. These are the parcels that gives us the best acidity at harvest.

Winemaking:
Grapes are hand harvested at normal ripeness level of 23 Brix then left to dry in the shade outdoors for 16 to 30 days. This allows moisture to evaporate naturally from the berries, concentrating sugars, acids and flavour. When the grapes have shrivelled half way to becoming raisins they are crushed and pressed whole bunch, and racked to old 225L barrels. A little sulphur is added to inhibit bacteria but allow the natural yeast to ferment. Fermentation takes ca. 6 months and stops naturally when the yeast cannot ferment further. The barrels are then treated differently: Some are not topped, but allowed to oxidize slowly, to build complexity. Some are topped every few months, but left without sulphur, and the remaining barrels are dosed with sulphur and topped every couple of months to maintain their purity and fruit. After 11 months the barrels are racked, blended and bottled unfiltered and unfined.

Maturation: 11 months in old (5th fill and older) 225L French oak barrels

Tasting Note: The luminous, viscous and bright golden colour reflects beautifully in the light as you swirl your glass, highlighting the well-balanced acidity of this vintage of our Mullineux Straw Wine. This Granitic freshness is reminiscent of wines grown in these ancient Swartland soils. The palate reveals complex layers of sun-dried apricots, limes and a distinct pithiness, all characters culminating from the rich Schist soils of Kasteelberg, which in turn develop into an enticing Meebos-like salinity and intense velvety mouth feel. Best served
chilled at 9 to 11 °C

Neal Martin, Vinous: 96/100 
‘The 2021 Straw Wine is pure Chenin as usual from vineyards that have the best malic acid as it tends not to precipitate out in such a sweet wine. It is dried outside over three months, barrel fermented until it stops naturally (340g/L residual sugar). It has an irresistible nose with pure honey, orange, strawberry and even a slight Aszú like quality. The palate is viscous and intense, the acidity effortlessly cutting through the richness with a beguilingly pure and seductive finish. Yet another to add to the canon of fabulous straw wines from the Mullineux’s. 2022-2048’

Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2022, 96/100
Made with grapes from granite soils in the Paardeberg, which tend to yield Chenin Blancs with higher levels of natural malic acid, this straw wine has become something of a Mullineux speciality. Air dried grapes are fermented in older wood to produce a sweet wine that matches pineapple, guava and dried raisin fruit with subtle wood and supporting freshness. 2024-32

Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 95/100
Grapes picked at normal ripeness and then left to dry outdoors for two to four weeks. The nose shows peach, apricot with a hay-like note in the background. The palate makes a big impression with extraordinary fruit concentration and massive acidity. The fruit is clean and pure, the texture viscous, the flavours intense. A polished wine as you’d expect from this producer.

Platter’s, ****(*) 94/100
Air-dried chenin from 2 special barriques, 10% new, aged 11 months. Suave & viscous 2021 seduces with complex flavours of honey, poached quince, preserved lime, spice & a floral-herbal note. Fully sweet, with formidable acid balance (331 g/L sugar, 11.5 g/L acid, near identical to Olerasay), vanilla-laced endless conclusion. 8.4% alc. 375 ml.