Mullineux Family Wines
South Africa 

The Estate
This is a small, highly focused family winery producing a select family of hand-crafted wines from the granite and shale based terroirs of the Swartland Region of South Africa.

Chris was born in Cape Town, raised in Johannesburg, and introduced to the world of wine while studying accountancy at the University of Stellenbosch. After braving his way through accounting, he enrolled into winemaking for a second degree, and on graduating took a position starting up a boutique organic winery in Tulbagh, where he was in charge of the vineyards and cellar for 5 very enjoyable years. In addition to stints at de Trafford and Rustenberg wineries in South Africa, Chris has also worked harvests at top wineries in Cote Rotie, Bandol, the Languedoc, Roussillon, and California. Over the years Chris has had good exposure to the people, vineyards and wines of the Swartland. This has lead to a growing love for, and firm belief in the region, and he looks forward to many creative and hard working vintages in this region with his family.
Andrea developed her passion for wine at the family dinner table, growing up in San Francisco. After studying Viticulture and Oenology at UC Davis and completing a handful of harvests in the Napa Valley, Andrea decided to broaden her winemaking knowledge overseas. After a harvest in Stellenbosch, she went on to work in Chateauneuf and, on the same trip, met Chris at a wine festival in Champagne! Andrea's love for South African wine (and Chris) brought her back to South Africa where they learnt that their compatibility extended into the vineyards and cellar. When Andrea is not hard at work in the cellar, her creative energies flow into the kitchen where she loves cooking up a storm, glass of wine in hand.

Chris and Andrea Mullineux

Press article - NEXT-GENERATION WINEMAKERS
- "All roads lead to Rhone" - The Tasting Panel (July 2010)

Press Article - raise a glass of the capes finest to our top 20 wineries
as seen on : (April 2012)
 "(...) Mullineux Family Wines: Another Swartland winery leapfrogs into a high ranking. It is a new entry and it is rare to arrive on the South African scene with the impressive force shown by the fledgling winery of Chris and Andrea Mullineux, whose first bottled vintage was only in 2008. The elegant Syrah, rich White Blend and sweet Straw Wine have deservedly shared the honours — and what honours!"

The Vineyards
Very low summer rainfall coupled with afternoon and evening breezes off the Atlantic Ocean result in low disease pressure. Vineyards are often planted in amongst the natural rhenoster veldt and fynbos, which provide refuge for predators of vineyard pests, and help reduce the spread of disease. Weeds struggle to establish themselves and spread, making it easier to control them without the need of herbicides.
Chris and Andrea have put together a group vineyards in the most interesting parts of the Swartland, which are mostly found around the shale and schist based Riebeek Kasteel Mountain, and the granite based Paardeberg mountain.
Lammershoek - The deep white, granitic soils on Lammershoek produce wines that are exceptionally pure, with a granitic perfume that shines through in red and white varieties.
Kasteelsig - The soils, found on the rolling hills north of Malmesbury, are a deep combination of red gravel and iron, and produce dark, concentrated wines that are the flesh of our blends.
Kloovenburg - The highly varied row directions and aspects bring much complexity to wines, and the high shale content of the soils gives serious structure, and brings an earthy spicy character to syrah planted in them.
Mountain View - The soils are shale based, which drain easily, reducing vigor and providing grapes of perfume, freshness and structure.

The vineyards are planted with grape varieties (which are mostly Mediterranean in origin) that are ideally suited to the environment, and are farmed sustainably and in harmony with their surroundings: Syrah, Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Viognier.

The Wines

MULLINEUX LABELS                       KLOOF STREET LABELS

Shelf-Talkers / Case card

shelf talker / case card

2010 Mullineux, White blend 12/750ml
UPC code: 7 84585 01294 7
#SA1EE242004CBS
80% Chenin, 10% Clairette Blanche, 10% Viognier.
"The Swartland is blessed with an abundance of old vine Chenin, and we use this as the backbone of our white blend. We then add several small parcels of Mediterranean varieties for complexity, balance and aromatic lift."

"The 2010 White Blend consists of 80% Chenin Blanc, 10% Viognier and 10% Clairette fermented and aged in old French barrels for 12 months during which it goes through complete malo. It has an exquisite bouquet with notes of grapefruit, honeysuckle, melted candle wax and a hint of jasmine. The palate is well-balanced with a lovely, creamy textured entry. Racy from start to finish with just a dash of spice, dried honey, mango and orange zest and impressive persistence, this is a superb Chenin Blanc blend. Drink now-2018.
For the sake of disclosure, readers should be aware that I have known Chris and Andre Mullineux-s financial backer long before they established Mullineux Family Wines. However, this Swartland producer is too important and their wines too good to pass over. Along with Eben Sadie, Chris has been at the forefront of the so-called -Swartland Revolution.- He adopts a minimalist approach to his wine with particular focus upon expression of terroir and this has resulted in the debut of two single vineyard releases in 2010, with the goal of translating the granite and schist soils of Swartland. This is Old World mantra applied to the New World to great effect. But let us begin with their entry-level range entitled -Kloof Street,- which is sourced from vineyards under long-term contracts."
- eRobertParker.com (Neal Martin, August 2011), 91pts

2009 Mullineux, White blend 12/750ml
UPC code: 7 84585 01294 7
#SA1EE242000CBS
61% Chenin, 23% Clairette Blanche, 16% Viognier.
"The Swartland is blessed with an abundance of old vine Chenin, and we use this as the backbone of our white blend. We then add several small parcels of Mediterranean varieties for complexity, balance and aromatic lift."

Winemaking: Hand picked grapes are cooled in our cold room, where after the Viognier is destemmed directly to tank, and macerated on the skins for 4 to 5 days before pressing. The Chenin, Clairette and Grenache blanc are pressed whole-bunch, and the juice is allowed to settle overnight. 20ppm SO2 is added, and with all our wines, no other additions are made. The juice is the racked to barrel for fermentation. Fermentation is with indigenous yeasts, and lasts up to 6 weeks. After fermentation, the wine is allowed to go through malolactic fermentation if it wants, and is left without sulphur on it's lees until spring. We will give a small amount of battonage if necessary for mouthfeel. The barrels are racked and blended just before the following vintage and bottled unfiltered.

Maturation: 11 months in used (3rd and 4th fill) French oak barrels.

Tasting Notes: Lemon-straw in color, this wine has a nose of crushed rocks, green citrus, cloves and a floral perfume. The palate is full, rich and has a mineral core, with a fresh, clove-like finish. Best served at 10 to 12 C, this wine will show optimally when decanted in the first 3 years after bottling.

"Ripe and unctuous, but well-defined, with riveting acidity that drives through the melon, creamed peach and Jonagold apple flavors. The long finish lets bitter almond and persimmon notes flitter through. Chenin Blanc, Clairette, Roussanne, Viognier and Grenache Blanc. Drink now through 2011. 640 cases made."
- Wine Spectator (Nov. 2010), 92 pts

"The 2009 White Blend consists of 61% Chenin Blanc, 21% Clairette Blanche and 16% Viognier and was matured in 225-liter barriques. The nose is reminiscent of a Roussillon Grenache Gris and is very well defined with hints of lanolin, dried peach, vanilla and a hint of fresh pear. The palate is very well defined with crisp acidity on the entry than waltzes in step with notes of fresh Conference pear, spice, dried lychee and hints of shaved ginger on the punchy finish. This is very focused and has great penetration, a wine that you will not forget. Just 675 cases produced. Drink 2011-2015."
- eRobertParker.com (Neal Martin, August 2011), 91pts

2008 Mullineux, White
"Tasted blind at home. A superb debut from Swartland, a blend of 85% Chenin Blanc with the rest consisting of equal proportions of Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Viognier. It has a wonderful Roussillon-like bouquet that soars from the glass with touches of white flower, fennel and grapefruit. Wonderful definition. The palate is very well balanced with freshly cut lime, grapefruit once again, citrus lemon and a touch of passion fruit. Very well crafted, nice weight on the slightly waxy-textured, almost smoky finish with a hint of fennel returning on the back palate. Lovely. Drink now-2011+ Tasted March 2009."
- Wine Advocate (Sept. 2009), 92 pts

National Retail Price: $27.95 / bottle