Mullineux Syrah 2015

Child prodigies can be rather disheartening to those of us that are slightly more… 'traditionally skilled.' (That's our code for untalented tambourine twitchers.) Like Mozart, 5 he was, when he composed his first concertos! Yet those of us in the Oddbins house band, after 12 years of practice, still haven't mastered 'Red, Red Wine!' Some old-world wineries probably feel quite similarly about Mullineux in South Africa.

People have been vinifying Syrah for ages, there's vineyards in the Rhone that are on the 17th generation of winemaker. Yet, it wasn't until 2007 that the Mullineux winery was established. In that absurdly short amount of time they have become renowned as one of the finest Syrah producers in the world. Expressive of spicy citrus rind, refined black fruit, violets and lilies. The palate is elegant and restrained yet with plenty of body and a silky texture balanced by a fresh, natural acidity, this fine Swartland red might well make some old world winemakers, a touch green.

Chris and Andrea Mullinieux created their first vintage in Swartland in 2008. The name of the Mullinieux vineyards is now internationally known and they are acclaimed as one of the top South African wine producers. Chris and Andrea produced vintages all over the world but settled in Swartland, South Africa because they believed that the granite and schist based soils would make up the perfect terroir to create some exceptional wines.

In order to preserve the characteristics of the terroir, the vines are farmed sustainably and only minimal amounts of sulphur are added to the wine during the fermentation process. The aim is to create wines that showcase the distinctive character of Swartland's soils.From seven sustainably farmed vineyard parcels in different parts of the Swartland: four parcels planted in the stony Shale and Schist based soils of the Kasteelberg; two parcels of dry-land, bush vines grown in the decomposed Granite of the Paardeberg; and one on the rolling, iron-rich soils west of Malmesbury. Vines are aged between 19 and 26 years.