Mullineux Syrah 2021 Swartland

Kleur:  helder lichtrood
Geur: zwart en rood fruit, tikje kruidig, viooltjes, mineralig, peper, zwarte olijf
Smaak: vol maar zeer elegant, sappig, veel fruit (kersen en bessen), tannines rond, complex, nog erg jong
Houdbaar: vrijwel op dronk, houdbaar tot 2031
Lekker bij: rundvlees, gevogelte, belegen en oude Hollandse kaas

Platter’s ***** 95/100
Expression of the Swartland, blending the 3 soil types featured in the Single Terroir range. 2021 90% bunch pressed, naturally fermented/11 months in 500L barrel, 20% new, year in 2,000/5,000L foudre. Expansive & impressive, with intense depth of black fruit, perfumed violet, dried herbs & exotic spice. Well structured, complex, built to last.

Tim Atkin: 95/100
“Our coolest vintage ever” is how Chris Mullineux describes the 2021 growing season, which has produced a suitably intense, well-balanced Swartland Syrah. Sourced from six sites on schist, granite and iron soils, it’s a youthful, focused, intensely concentrated red that needs another year or two in bottle, showing grippy tannins and layers of fig, blackberry and black pepper. 2024-30

WineMag 95/100
90% whole-bunch fermentation. Matured for 12 months in 500-litre barrels, before being transferred to 5 000-litre foudre for another 12 months. Red and black berries, olive, fynbos, cured meat and white pepper on the nose while the palate is pure and poised – lovely clarity of fruit, bright acidity and powdery tannins, the finish long and savoury. A seamless wine that carries its alcohol of 14% extremely well.

Winemaking
Each parcel of grapes is chilled in our cold room then 10% is destemmed to tank and the remainder is added as whole bunches. Minimal SO2 is added and, as with all our wines, no further additions are made. The must is initially pigeaged once a day. After about 4 days, fermentation begins with indigenous yeasts and the wine is pigeaged once or twice a day, depending on extract and tannin development. Temperatures are kept below 28 °C. Fermentation lasts 7 to 10 days after which 3 to 7 weeks (also depending on tannin development) skin contact is given. The wine is then pressed to barrel for malolactic fermentation and maturation. Each parcel is racked in Spring to blend the wine, which is then returned to barrel and later bottled unfiltered and unfined.

Maturation
Aged 11 months in French oak 500L barrels and a further nine months in tank.

Tasting Note
The Mullineux Syrah has become synonymous with its hallmark Swartland perfume of plush blackberries, violets and black olive tapenade. The palate is rich and elegant with velvety tannins, complex red fruits and warm spicy notes on the finish. This Syrah would be best served at 16 to 18 °C and will benefit greatly from ageing.