Mullineux Schist Chenin Blanc 2024

Chris and Andrea Mullineux make this Chenin Blanc in Swartland, in South Africa's Coastal Region, from old bush vines rooted in schist. Schist is a hard metamorphic rock that breaks into thin plates and forces the vine to work for water, giving low yields, concentrated fruit and a marked stony minerality. Swartland is warm and dry, but the old, unirrigated vines and their deep roots keep the wine balanced, and 2024 was a cool, even vintage that favoured freshness. The grapes are aged eleven months in 225-litre French oak barrels. Barrel ageing on the lees adds a fine, creamy texture and a subtle toast, while the small barrel gives gentle oxygenation that broadens the palate without heavy oak flavour, letting the schist speak. Chenin Blanc holds firm acidity even in a warm climate, which gives the wine its length. The colour is bright gold. The nose shows quince, white peach and ripe citrus, with honey, a light toast and a smoky, flinty minerality. The palate is dry, textured and precise, with a long, saline finish. Serve at 11 to 13 degrees in a large glass.