Mullineux Granite Eikelaan Chenin Blanc 2023 comes from Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines, a highly regarded South African estate in the Swartland that champions sustainable farming and minimalist winemaking to express each site’s unique terroir. The winery, led by Chris and Andrea Mullineux, has won numerous accolades including multiple Platter’s South African Wine Guide Winery of the Year titles and global recognition such as World’s Best Rising Star at the 2025 Golden Vines Awards, underscoring its reputation for excellence. This wine is sourced from the Eikelaan vineyard, a dry-land bush vine site planted in 1976 on decomposed granite soils high on the Paardeberg slopes. Hand-harvested fruit was whole-bunch pressed and fermented with indigenous yeasts, then matured for around 10-11 months in French oak barrels, following Mullineux’s minimalist ethos of minimal additions and natural handling to preserve purity and longevity. On the palate it shows a vibrant interplay of rich yellow stone fruits, citrus and floral aromatics alongside a core of lively acidity and minerality reflective of the granite soils, with layers of fynbos and pithy texture that give depth and balance. Critics have awarded this vintage high praise, with scores such as 97 points from Greg Sherwood MW and 96 points from Winemag.co.za, noting its concentrated yet elegant profile and excellent potential for ageing. This single-vineyard Chenin Blanc is a standout example of Swartland’s capacity for expressive, terroir-driven white wines and reflects Mullineux’s meticulous vineyard work and winemaking philosophy, making it compelling for collectors and enthusiasts alike. Why we love this wine? We love Chenins and this expression is exquisitely unique to the Swartland terroir!
