2019 Mullineux Iron Syrah
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Tasting notes
Savoury – good maturity here. Very fine tannin, long and a great example of how good this quality level is at Mullineux. No hurry to drink. (AWH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
Beginning with a floral grip, the 2019 Iron Syrah offers a seductive nose filled with red flowers, wild raspberry and dusty cherry as elegant spice tones waft from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, the wine has a fine mineral tension and firm, rocky tannins that lift the mid-palate. As the tannins loosen, the wine uncoils in the mouth, leading to a food-friendly and delightfully fragranced finish. This was made with 100% whole-cluster Syrah, and the wine rested for one year in 50% new French oak. It's delicious! 3,300 bottles produced.
The 2019 Syrah Iron is a little tighter and more backward on the nose compared to the Schist and Granite, revealing more of a marine influence with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with good structure, a little more savory in style than the aforementioned cuvées and maybe not quite as cohesive on the finish. I might broach this sooner than the others based on this showing.
About the producer
Chris and Andrea Mullineux were at the forefront of South Africa’s new-wave movement and are now one of the country’s most established names. Alongside the Swartland project that made their name, they make wines in Franschhoek under the Leeu Passant name – a tribute to South Africa’s vinous past.