Mullineux IRON Kasteelsig Syrah 2021

Vineyard Notes

Grown on the IRON soils of the rolling red hills surrounding Malmesbury, this organic vineyard is well established on the clay and gravel rich Koffieklip soils that are good at holding water. The soil bed becomes generous during primary growth in the spring, but then around veraison time the clay in the soils stops releasing moisture and the vine compensates during this quick ripening phase by making the smallest grapes we have.

Production Notes

Whole bunches were put into open top 500L French oak barrels and foot stomped to release some juice. Fermentation with indigenous yeasts is followed by four weeks of skin contact, after which the wine was drained and pressed to barrel for malolactic fermentation and maturation. We pigeaged once a day before, during and after fermentation. In Spring the wine was racked and after a total of 22 months in barrel was bottled unfiltered and unfined.

Maturation

12 months in French oak 500L barrels, 50% new, followed by 10 months in 2000L foudre . 8 months of aging in bottle was then given before release.

Tasting Notes

The IRON soils give us a Syrah that is rich and round, with gravely but plush tannins and yet for some reason this wine always has the lowest alcohol conversion for similar sugars across the Single Terroir they are all picked at the same ripeness. The wine brims with flavours of dark plum, wild blueberry and hints of tomato leaf and the full bodied mid palate, distinct charcuterie and chalky tannins are a true testament of its natural extract.

Technical Details at Bottling

Alcohol 13.5% – RS 1.8 g/l – TA 5.5 g/l  – pH 3.8