2011 Mullineux, White, Swartland, South Africa

2011 Mullineux, White, Swartland, South Africa

Product: 20118051231
Prices start from £450.00 per case Buying options
2011 Mullineux, White, Swartland, South Africa

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Available by the case In Bond. Pricing excludes duty and VAT, which must be paid separately before delivery. Storage charges apply.
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6 x 75cl bottle
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Description

A brilliant example of what Swartland can do so well; White Blend may not sound terribly inviting but it masks a truly beguiling blend of several grape varieties which together combine to form a beautifully complex, well-rounded wine.

The Chenin Blanc, which comprises 65% of the blend, is the backbone and imparts acidity, some tropical and appley aromas to the bouquet, while Clairette, a Southern Rhone varietal, contributes a lemony freshness and fruitiness. Viognier, another import from the Rhone, adds another dimension with its glorious nose of apricot, peach and honeysuckle. A key to this wine, apart from this harmonious blend, is the age of the vines, because Swartland is blessed with a large number of old-vine Chenin Blanc plantations, and these vines yield small volumes of highly concentrated fruit.

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Critics reviews

David Williams
From one of the standout producers in South Africa's rising-star Swartland region, a typically intense and complex Loire-meets-Rhône Valley-style dry white blend. It marries the honeyed baked apple intensity of chenin blanc with the ripe peach of viognier (among others) to make an exceptionally classy wine.
The 20 best Christmas white wines over £10
David Williams - The Observer, Sunday 18 November 2012
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About this WINE

Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines

Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines

Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines is one of the stand-out producers in South Africa's budding Swartland region. Winemakers Chris and Andrea Mullineux’s ambition is to bottle wines that are a true expression of the Swartland, and all steps of their winemaking process are taken with this in mind. They work closely with a select group of growers who follow sustainable, reasoned farming practices, as well as owning vineyards at their Roundstone Farm in Riebeeksrivier.

In the cellar, apart from minimal amounts of sulphur, nothing is added to or removed from the wine. They do not make use of any yeasts, acids, tannins, enzymes, or fining and filtering agents. “Leeu” (Afrikaans for “lion”) was added to the name recently to recognise the contribution of a new investor to the project.

Apart from their wonderful Syrah, Chenin Blanc-based white blend and a super-rich Straw Wine made from air-dried Chenin Blanc, fermented and matured in old barriques, Mullineux now has a range of spectacular single-terroir Syrah and Chenin Blanc wines, each of which illustrates the amazing potential of the differing Swartland soils. Volumes of the single-vineyard wines are tiny, so availability is extremely limited.

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Swartland

Swartland

After Stellenbosch, the west coast district of Swartland (25 miles due north of Cape Town, between the towns of Malmesbury and Piketberg) now ranks as the Cape's most exciting wine-producing district.

Settled initially by nomadic Khoikhoi from Namibia, the Dutch brought trade and vines to the region in the 17th century. Viticulture was developed only more recently.

This contrasts with an ancient geology which has brought a mix of shale, arenite sandstone and granite soils air-conditioned by the Atlantic Ocean nearby.

Chenin Blanc and Shiraz seem to do best, as exemplified by the wines of Eben Sadie and Mullineux.

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Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc

Chenin Blanc is an important white grape variety planted in the Anjou-Saumur and Touraine regions of the Loire Valley and the most widely planted varietal grape in South Africa.

In the Loire it produces high quality dry wines in Savenniéres, and luscious sweet, dessert wines in Coteaux du Layon, Bonnezeaux and Quarts de Chaume. In Vouvray and Montlouis it can be dry, medium dry, or sweet, and still or sparkling. Whether dry or sweet, the best Loire Chenin Blancs possess marvellously concentrated rich, honeyed fruit together with refreshingly vibrant acidity. It is Chenin Blanc's high acidity that enable the wines to age so well.

In South Africa Chenin Blanc is easier to grow and is prized for its versatility. It is used as a cheap blending option with Chardonnay, Colombard, and Muscat but also bottled unblended. The best producers keep their yields low and produce impressive mouthfilling wines.

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