Chris and Andrea Mullineux, who met at a wine festival in Champagne, worked several vintages in France, South Africa, and California together. When it came time to choose their new home, South Africa’s Swartland region was the clear answer. These old vineyards, full of ancient granite and schist, was where they would make the wine of their dreams. 

Fast forward a few years. They work as a team, with Chris mostly tending the vineyards and Andrea making the wine. In fact, Andrea was named was named Wine Enthusiast’s Winemaker of the Year in 2016. Mullineux is now beloved worldwide for their site-expressive wines. You might say it’s going well. 

This, their syrah grown on schist, is compelling insight into their work. The grapes, from their regeneratively-tended Roundstone farm on rocky schist soils, grow as tiny berries on tiny clusters. The resulting wine offers striking concentration, with notes of black currant, cedar, licorice, black pepper and earl grey tea. On the palate, it remains remarkably fresh, with juniper and more pepper on the finish and fine tannins throughout. A magnificent dream made real. 

This wine is a pre-sale with expected arrival of end of year.