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Coastal Region · South Africa

Producer profile

Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines

Swartland and Franschhoek partnership making Syrah, Chenin Blanc and Straw Wine with indigenous yeasts and little new wood.

Place
South Africa
Known for
Swartland Syrah and Chenin Blanc
Wine context
Chenin Blanc · Syrah / Shiraz
Editorial basis
World of Wine editorial profile · 7 sources

World of Wine editorial profile · Source list ↓

Atlas locationCoastal Region · South Africa

At A Glance

Field
Detail
Region
Swartland and Franschhoek
Mullineux base
Roundstone, Riebeeksrivier Valley ward, Swartland
Leeu Passant base
Leeu Estates, Franschhoek
Main grapes
Syrah and Chenin Blanc
Range
Syrah, Chenin Blanc based white blend, Straw Wine, single terroir Syrah and Chenin Blanc wines
Cellar
Indigenous yeasts, little new wood and low intervention

The Producer

Mullineux is based at Roundstone in the Riebeeksrivier Valley ward of Swartland. Chris and Andrea Mullineux established the winery in 2007. Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines is the partnership between Chris and Andrea Mullineux and Analjit Singh.

Leeu Passant Winery is on Leeu Estates in Franschhoek. The combined business therefore contains a Swartland winery and a Franschhoek winery, with each retaining its own name and place.

Place

Swartland is the setting for Mullineux at Roundstone in the Riebeeksrivier Valley ward. Franschhoek is the setting for Leeu Passant Winery on Leeu Estates. Mullineux carries Syrah, Chenin Blanc and Straw Wine, while Leeu Passant is associated with the Old Vine Project.

Wines

The Mullineux range includes Syrah, a Chenin Blanc based white blend, Straw Wine made from air dried Chenin Blanc, and single terroir Syrah and Chenin Blanc wines. The red bottles named here are Mullineux Granite Syrah 2021, Mullineux Schist Syrah 2021, Mullineux Iron Syrah 2021 and Mullineux Syrah 2021.

Mullineux Schist Syrah 2021 comes from the Roundstone vineyard on the Kasteelberg. It is typically made with whole bunch fermentation and matured for 12 to 15 months in 500 litre barrels, half of them new. Whole bunch fermentation keeps the stems with the grapes and can add perfume, spice and tannin. The wine shows potpourri, lavender, fynbos, red and black berries, olive, clove and pepper, followed by pure fruit, fresh acidity and powdery tannins.

Final Word

Chris and Andrea Mullineux's Swartland winery and the Franschhoek Leeu Passant Winery sit within a partnership with Analjit Singh. The range moves from Syrah and Chenin Blanc based whites to air dried Chenin Blanc Straw Wine, with Roundstone's vineyards carrying Regenerative Organic Certification.

Sources

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Where to go next

mapFind Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines on the mapKeep the producer, its region and nearby places together.learningUnderstand Chenin BlancRead the quick library guide to Chenin Blanc, which is listed with this producer.