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Description
Chris and Andrea Mullineux have a gift for making wines that punch well above their weight, and the 2022 Kloof Street Rouge is no exception.
This blend of 57% Syrah, 27% Grenache Noir, 9% Cinsault, and 7% Tinta Barocca captures the Mediterranean-inspired style that has put Mullineux on the map.
Sourced from sustainably farmed vineyards ranging from 7 to 48 years old, the fruit comes from two key areas. Syrah and Cinsault thrive on the shale and schist soils of Kasteelberg, while Tinta Barocca and Grenache come from the decomposed granite soils of Paardeberg, creating a wine with both depth and energy.
The winemaking is equally thoughtful. After hand-harvesting, 60% of the fruit was destemmed while 40% remained whole bunch, and fermentation began naturally with indigenous yeasts. The wine matured for 11 months in third- and fourth-fill French oak barrels and large wooden vats, ensuring the oak influence stayed subtle and allowed the fruit to shine.
On the nose, you’ll find perfumed aromas of dark berries, violets, and holiday spices. The palate is medium-bodied and vibrant, with flavours of blackberry, cherry, and a hint of savoury spice. Each component adds its own touch: Cinsault brings aromatic lift, Tinta Barocca adds structure, Grenache offers ripe fruit, and Syrah ties it all together beautifully.
This was the Best Value Red Wine of the Year in Master of Wine Tim Atkin's comprehensive 2024 report of South African wine. As he said, it's "Almost impossible to beat at the price."
93 points & Best Value Red of the Year
“Almost too good,” mused Chris Mullineux when he poured this wine, and I know what he means. Combining Syrah, 30% Grenache, 17% Tinta Barocca, and 10% Cinsault, it massively over-delivers at its price point, with perfumed 30% whole bunches, bramble, red cherry, and white pepper flavours, and some granitic grip and freshness. Almost impossible to beat at the price."
- Tim Atkin MW (2024 South African Wine Report)
