Mullineux - a new star in the South African wine-sky

As a Riesling-aficionado it is quite difficult to impress me with a white wine outside from Germany and especially from overseas. But this White blend is serious juice and bewitching like the winemakers.


2008 Mullineux, White Blend, Swartland, South Africa

An amazing and promising debut of Chris&Andrea Mullineux with this white dry based on 86% Chenin blanc, 7% Clairette and 7% Viognier. The soils on the Riebeek Kasteel and Porcelain mountains, on the eastern side of the Swartland, are based on shale and have a good clay content. Fermentation is with indigenous yeasts and matured 11 months in used french oak barrels.

Firm&fresh and without any kind of flabbiness I often find in white oversea wines. Deep floral&herbal flavor profile with some citrus elements…white flowers, honey and spicy notes of herbs, dried flowers and a nice touch of creaminess with some almond notes from the oak. BRAVO

More info: http://mullineuxwines.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yes, Keith Prothero is also involved.

In addition, here a note from Jancis Robinson a few days ago…

Mullineux, White 2008 Swartland 17 Drink 2009-12
Extremely tangy but deep and satisfying and wild. Very special wine. Firm and bone dry with lots of honey and interest tucked in there. Exceptional. New South African producer to watch.

Had a chance to briefly meet Chris and Andrea at last year’s HdR - incredibly nice folks and their wines were well recd at the event as well,

IIRC, they will be one of the panelists at this year’s HdR - a panel that focuses on SA rhones . . .

Cheers!

Keith is a super guy.