Varieties: 62% Chenin Blanc, 10% Semillon Gris, 13% Clairette Blanche, 8% Grenache Blanc, 5% Viognier, 2% Verdelho

Bottling Date: 11 January 2024

Production: 37 000 bottles / 3 083 cases and 130 magnums

Wine of Origin: Swartland

Vineyard details

Our 2023 Mullineux Old Vines White continues the marriage of old vine Chenin Blanc with Mediterranean varieties planted on the Granite, Schist and Iron based soils of the Swartland. The incredible texture and backbone of the blend is brought by the low yielding old-vine Chenin Blanc, grown on all three of our focus soil types. The Clairette Blanche and Grenache Blanc add layers of salinity and freshness and its opulent fragrance is from the Viognier, Semillon Gris and Verdelho. These vineyards are up to sixty-eight years old, and all sustainably farmed.

Date(s) Harvested

The grapes were hand-harvested between the 20th January and 23rd February with a yield of 2 to 5 tons/ha, which translated to an average of 30 HL/ha. Winemaking: Each vineyard for our 2023 Mullineux Old Vines White was carefully hand-harvested to respect the low juice-to-berry ratio inherent to the old vines. Once the cool grapes were oxidatively whole-bunch pressed, the juice was allowed to settle overnight. Indigenous yeast saw the wine through its primary fermentation that lasted up to ten weeks and any natural malolactic fermentation was allowed to take its course. The wine was left on its lees in barrel until spring to refine and build on the complex flavours of this signature ensemble. It was then racked after 11 months, left to settle for another 30 days and the final blend was bottled just before the 2024 harvest.

Maturation

This wine was aged for 11 months in 3rd to 5th fill French oak 500L barrels and two new 2000L Foudre.

Tasting Note

This complex wine is our signature expression of the old vines and ancient soils from the Swartland. During the growing season, the vines were exposed to some heat spikes, but cool evenings and very little precipitation, which resulted in a slow and gradual ripening period and beautifully concentrated berries. Upfront aromas of fresh stone fruit and lightly poached pear follow through to a complex palate with layers of yellow grapefruit and nectarines, a vibrant acidity and hints ginger and citrus-esque galangal on the finish. This wine is best served at 10 to 12 °C and will benefit from ageing.

Tim Atkin MV: 94 Points

Parcels on granite, schist, iron and quartz contribute to this old-vine cuvée of Chenin Blanc, 13% Clairette, 10% Semillon Gris, 8% Grenache Blanc, 5% Viognier and 2% Verdelho. Exotic yet well balanced, it has a medley of citrus and stone fruit flavours, stylish wood and enough acidity and minerality to lift and freshen the finish. Drink 2025-29

Technical Details at Bottling

Alcohol 14 % – RS 2.0 g/l – TA 5.60 g/l – pH 3.37

Data Sheet

https://mlfwines.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/2023-Mullineux-Old-Vines-White-Fact-Sheet.pdf