2012 Mullineux Syrah Granite
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Tasting notes
Dark ruby-red. Sexy, very ripe aromas of candied blueberry, flint, woodsmoke and Christmas spices. Lush, broad and fine-grained; shows an almost candied cherry quality but comes across as nicely dry (there's actually 2.9 g/l r.s. here). Finishes with smooth tannins and lovely lingering perfume. Superb Syrah for drinking young or a decade down the road.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
About 100 cases of each of these soil-type bottlings. Very deep soils and never water stressed, also greener and quite a luscious nose. But on the palate it is sinewy and only lightly treacly. Quite racy and refined. (JR)
The 2012 Mullineux Granite Syrah is 100% whole-bunch fermented and raised in 50% new oak. It has a sublime, mineral bouquet with fine tension with blackberry, dark plum, wet stone and touches of candied orange peel. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, crisp acidity, fine grip with quite a pointed, assertive boysenberry and peaty finish. This is a very fine Syrah, although this year it is outclassed by the Schist.
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.