Mullineux Single Terroir, `Schist` Chenin Blanc
Vintage: 2024
| Vintage | Product Code | Format | Closure | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | MU115B24 | 6 x 75 | Natural Cork | Available |
Producer
Founded by Chris and Andrea Mullineux in 2007, Mullineux is one of the most lauded wineries in South Africa, having been named ‘Winery of the Year’ five times by the Platter’s Wine Guide (in 2014, 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2023). Chris and Andrea chose the town of Riebeek-Kasteel, just west of Malmesbury in the Swartland, due to its old vineyards planted on granite and schist soils. They reasoned that, with such quality fruit, they could make outstanding wines. It is an understatement to say they have been proved right.
The Swartland is warm and dry in the summer, benefiting from a cooling afternoon breeze from the Atlantic Ocean, which borders the region to the West. Disease pressure is low, so spraying is kept to a minimum. The Mullineux philosophy is rooted in sustainable and regenerative viticulture. Their home vineyard, ‘Roundstone’, is a testament to this. The rows are interplanted with native species like fynbos, which provide a habitat for native insects and supersede the need for pesticides. Cover crops, composting, and careful attention to soil vitality allow the estate to retain water more efficiently. The rows are also planted along the contours of the land to reduce soil erosion. In 2025, Mullineux became the first winery in South Africa to achieve Regenerative Organic Certification. By enhancing soil health and making their vineyards more resilient, the wines are more vibrant, complex and expressive.
Single Terroir
Their ‘Single Terroir’ Chenin Blancs and Syrahs are produced in limited quantities. Working with three main soil types: granite, schist and iron, Andrea and Chris believe that soil is “the biggest fingerprint” on their wines. All the grapes are harvested at the same ripeness level and vinified identically, meaning the wines are truly expressive of the soils on which they are grown. The ‘Granite’ wines are characterised by elegant, perfumed fruit and nervy acidity. The ‘Schist’ wines have great depth of flavour and a ripe, spicy profile. The ‘Iron’ wines tend to be the most structured and full bodied.
Vineyards
Fruit for this Chenin Blanc comes from a single parcel of dry-farmed bush vines planted in the stony shale and schist-based soils of Mullineux's farm, Roundstone, on the Kasteelberg. The soils are rocky and well-drained, producing vines with smaller and more open canopies, naturally small bunches and thick-skinned berries. This parcel of Chenin Blanc gives the best expression of the Kasteelberg soil's density with rich mouthfeel and fruit concentration.
Vintage
The 2024 vintage began slowly, with above-average winter rainfall and a cool spring. Early summer winds followed during Chenin Blanc flowering, leading to lower yields, open bunches, and exceptionally healthy fruit. Beneficial diurnal shifts occurred following veraison, with warm days and cool nights allowing for accelerated ripening, producing clusters with vibrant acidity and intense fruit purity. Harvest began on time, and the fruit was picked before the hottest, driest part of the season. This allowed for the typical Chenin Blanc freshness to be preserved, ensuring the variety's classical texture and balance.
Vinification
Mullineux use a minimalist winemaking approach, with limited SO2 used and no other additions made. The hand-picked grapes were chilled in Mullineux's cold room before being pressed as whole bunches and allowed to settle overnight. The resulting juice was racked to the barrels for indigenous yeast fermentation. The wine was then left in barrels on its lees until spring, with 11 months spent in seasoned French oak barrels, before it is racked, blended, and bottled without filtration.
Tasting Notes & Technical Details
On the nose, bright aromas of fresh quince, white peach, and a hint of lime. The palate is firm, chalky, with a zesty finish.
Alcohol (ABV)
14%
Acidity
6.1 g/l
Residual Sugar
1.3 g/l
pH
3.36
Other wines from this producer
Producer | Wine | Product Code | Features | Style | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signature | Old Vines Swartland White Blend | MU103 | W | Factsheet | |
| Syrah | MU104 | R | Factsheet | ||
| Straw Wine | MU105 | Sw | Factsheet | ||
| Olerasay 3º Straw Wine Chenin Blanc | MU117 | Sw | |||
| Single Terroir | `Granite` Swartland Chenin Blanc | MU106 | W | Factsheet | |
| `Granite` Swartland Syrah | MU108 | R | Factsheet | ||
| `Schist` Syrah | MU109 | R | Factsheet | ||
| `Iron` Swartland Syrah | MU110 | R | Factsheet | ||
| `Iron` Chenin Blanc | MU116 | W | Factsheet |