Mullineux Old Vines White 2021

Mullineux Old Vines White 2021

 

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Mullineux
Old Vines White 2021
  • Vintage : 2021
  • Country : South Africa
  • Region : Swartland
  • Subregion
  • Type : White
  • Style Creamy Full Bodied White
  • Format : 75cl
  • Alcohol : 14°
  • Grappes : 69% Chenin Blanc, 12% Clairette, 9% Grenache Blanc, 7% Viognier, 3% Sémillon Gris

Experts Score Vintage
JS James Suckling 93 2021
VN Vinous (Antonio Galloni) 93 2021
WS Wine Spectator 92 2021
RP Robert Parker 91+ 2021
DCT Decanter 93 2019
TA Tim Atkin 94 2017
W&S Wines & Spirits 92 2017
More information on wine critics and ratings

The Swartland is blessed with an abundance of old vine Chenin and we use this as the backbone of our white blend. We then add several small parcels of Mediterranean varieties for complexity, balance and aromatic lift. The grapes come from vineyard parcels in different parts of the Swartland:  the stony Shale and Schist based soils of the Kasteelberg,  the decomposed Granite of the Paardeberg and the rolling, iron-rich hills west of Malmesbury.

Fermentation is in barrel with indigenous yeasts and the wine is aged for 11 months in French oak barrels, 20% new.

Tasting Notes:

Pale straw in colour, this wine has a nose of ripe, green citrus fruit and Christmas spices. The palate is fresh and richly textured, with notes of ripe pears, almonds and peaches, and a clove-like finish. Best served at about 12 ˚C, this wine will show optimally when decanted in the first 3 years after bottling.

James Suckling (JS) : 93 Points (2021)
Perfumed aromas of white peaches, lily and beeswax. Medium-bodied with oily texture. Rather supple with very good concentration. Mineral with an almost saline character. Pure, transparent and crystal clear. From vines that are up to 70 years old. 62% chenin blanc, 10% clairette blanche, 9% viognier, 7% grenache blanc, 6% verdelho and 6% semillon. Drink or hold. (10/2022)

Vinous (Antonio Galloni) (VN) : 93 Points (2021)
The 2021 Old Vines White comes from vines up to 70-years old built around Chenin Blanc, 62% in this vintage, barrel fermented in 500-litre barrels and a couple of foudres. This has a lovely bouquet with dried honey, white flowers, honeysuckle and light grilled walnut aromas. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, gorgeous texture with impressive tension on the finish. This is an outstanding Old Vine White that will age with style. (NM) (9/2022)

Wine Spectator (WS) : 92 Points (2021)
A graceful white, with creamed apple, pickled ginger, verbena, peach skin and chamomile notes gliding across the palate. Sleek and finely meshed, layering lightly mouthwatering acidity and an underlying streak of salinity with the pretty flavor range. Chenin Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Sémillon and Verdelho. Drink now through 2026. (5/2023)

Robert Parker (RP) : 91+ Points (2021)
Composed of a blend of 62% Chenin Blanc, 10% Clairette Blanche, 9% Viognier, 7% Grenache Blanc, 6% Sémillon and 6% Verdelho, the 2021 Old Vine White is bright, fresh and focused with succulent stonefruit aromas that sway with a brilliant floral essence and sweet citrus tone. Medium to full-bodied, the mouthfeel is textural and refined with a delightful crunchy minerality and exuberance that displays power and finesse. There is a lovely flutter of oak spice across the long and subtly spiced finish. Just over 25,000 bottles were filled after resting for 11 months in third and fifth use French oak.

Decanter (DCT) : 93 Points (2019)
Once ubiquitous blending components for brandy production in years gone past have come into their own, now with old-vine complexity. Chenin Blanc is the major component (74%) along with Clairette (8%), Viognier (7%) and Grenache Blanc (6%) plus tiny additions of Semillon Gris, Viura and Verdelho, sourced from seven parcels in different parts of Swartland. Candied lemon peel, cloves, poached pear and quince together with white blossom and fresh pastry weave together for an enticing nose. These follow on the palate with bright citrus, ripe pear and peach with stony minerality and almond-like finish. Will get more waxy and textural as it ages. Drinking Window 2020 - 2040

Tim Atkin (TA) : 94 Points (2017)
Mixing soil types and varieties (Chenin with Clairette, Sauvignon Gris, Grenache Blanc and Viognier), this old vine cuvée is wonderfully complex and exotic in 2017. Honeysuckle, aromatic spices, sappy acidity and pear and passion fruit heaven. 2019-24. Alcohol: 13.5

Wines & Spirits (W&S) : 92 Points (2017)
Chris and Andrea Mullineux search out old chenin blanc parcels for the backbone of this wine, adding small amounts of grenache blanc, clairette, viognier and semillon. The fruit from each parcel is whole-bunch pressed and barrel fermented with ambient yeasts, then left on the lees until it’s gone through malolactic. This 2017 is still so young you can feel some of that lactic acid in the wine’s creamy richness, a milky, toasty note that brings to mind Comté cheese. Give it air and it turns toward fresh cream, complete with notes of wildflowers and grasses, and the fruit comes up—pale peach and tangy tangerine. If you open this now, decant it before pouring with something rich—like raclette. Better, however, to give it a few years in the cellar to lengthen out.

Mullineux Chenin Blanc Granite 2021
Mullineux Chenin Blanc Granite 2021
Mullineux
Chenin Blanc Granite 2021
RP
92
VN
93
JS
95
The nose is flinty with some stone fruit and citrus aromatics. The palate is tight, long, flinty with notes of grapefruit and cinnamon-spiced apples. This wine exhibits a fantastic natural acidity that balances out the texture and mid-palate. A fantastic Swartland white with great ageing potential.
61,90 €
Quantity : moins plus
Mullineux Syrah Granite 2018
Mullineux Syrah Granite 2018
Mullineux
Syrah Granite 2018
RP
93
WS
92
WE
92
The 'Granite' Syrah is the most perfumed and elegant of Mullineux's single terroir Syrahs. This wine has a floral, spicy, cranberry nose and a tight, fresh structure with a silky texture. The palate has notes of succulent berries and delicate herbs and spices.
99,00 €
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Mullineux Old Vines White 2021 Reviewed by James Suckling 13-11-2023 . Score: 4.5