Mullineux was established in 2007, when Chris and Andrea Mullineux settled in the Swartland wine region, 60 kilometers north of Cape Town. Within a very short time period the winery established itself as one of South Africa’s most celebrated wine brands, both locally and on the international front. By 2020 the winery had received thirty 5-star ratings from Platter’s South African Wine Guide, as well as being awarded Platter’s Winery of the Year an unprecedented 4 times in 2014, 2016, 2019 and 2020.
In addition, Andrea was named Wine Enthusiast’s 2016 International Winemaker of the Year and in 2016 Chris & Andrea were Tim Atkin’s South African Winemakers of the Year.
The winemaker aim with this Syrah is to give true and complete expression to the Shale & Schist and Granite terroirs in which the vines grow. Approximately half the grapes are whole-bunch fermented and all fermentation is with indigenous yeasts. The wine is aged for 11 months in French oak, 15% new. The wine is bottled unfiltered and unfined.
"The nose of the 2017 Syrah is elegant with black fruit showing up first, followed by red fruit expressions that mingle with spice and oak tones before subtle floral aromas present themselves and emerge gradually out of the glass. Medium to full-bodied, the Syrah is structured and complex with a focused mid-palate and a long-lingering finish. The 2017 has not yet been released, but it represents great value for the price. Be on the lookout for this bottling." 91 pts, Anthony Mueller, WA
"The 2017 Syrah contains 90% whole-bunch fruit and sees 11 months in 500-liter oak barrels, 20% new. It has a lifted blackberry, raspberry and pomegranate bouquet, which is quite dense at the moment and showing just a touch of reduction. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chewy tannins on the entry. There is plenty of lovely red fruit here, laced with white pepper and clove. The precise finish lingers in the mouth. Very fine." 91 pts, Neal Martin, Vinous
"Mid bright garnet. A spicy form of Syrah – definitely not northern Rhône! Richer than that. Pleasing texture with some fine tannins still in evidence and some pretty ripe fruit. You are aware that the grapes were pretty dry and the wine is not as sleek as some previous vintages but this is an attractive savoury wine and expresses the drylands of the Swartland well. No hurry at all to drink this." 16.5 pts, Jancis Robinson