Description
One of a trio of brilliant soil-based Syrahs from the Mullineux in 2018. Structured and grippy, it’s a wine that will reward patience, with clove spice from 100% whole bunches, notes of blood orange and blackberry, fine oak and a tangy, refreshing finish. 2023-33 96/100 Tim Atkin MW
Vineyard
Grapes for this wine were sourced from a single parcel of sustainably farmed, 24-year-old, dry-farmed bush vines grown on the decomposed granite soils of the Paardeberg. These soils have a layer of clay below the surface and a deep root system, protecting the vines from the region’s dry conditions. The resulting vines have denser canopies, offering more shade and producing wines with excellent freshness and perfumed aromatics.
Vintage
The 2018 vintage experienced extremely dry conditions in the Swartland, with average yields reduced by 50% of normal volumes, while some vineyards were significantly lower. The lower yields resulted in significantly smaller grape bunches and berries but have led to concentrated fruit with complexity of flavour and aroma. The canopies were also more open, allowing more sunlight onto the grapes resulting in thicker skins, more tannins and darker fruit aromatics. Veraison was late, meaning harvest started 10 to 14 days later than normal. Another vintage with tiny yields but exciting quality.
Vinification
Grapes were first chilled in Mullineux’s cold room. The whole bunches were then put into open-top, 500-litre French oak barrels and crushed by foot to release some juice. Minimal SO2 was added, and, as with all their wines, no further additions were made. After about four days, fermentation began with indigenous yeasts and lasted about 10 days. The cap was manually punched down once a day before, during and after fermentation. Following a further four weeks of skin contact, the wine was drained and pressed to barrel for malolactic fermentation and maturation. The wine spent 12 months ageing in 500-litre French oak barrels (25% new), followed by nine months in second fill Foudre. After a total of 21 months in barrel, it was bottled unfiltered and unfined.
Alcohol 13.5%
RS 2.1 g/l
TA 5.1 g/l
pH 3.672
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