Granite Syrah, Mullineux 2022

The 2022 Syrah Granite comes from the Jakkalsfontein vineyard that used to deliver fruit to the local cooperative. Mullineux has worked with this vineyard for 20 years, and several notable growers source from here. Like the Iron and Schist cuvées, this was punched down by hand, then matured in used barrels for the first year and 2,000-liter foudres for the second. The bouquet offers a mixture of red and black fruit, a touch of gravel and notes of black pepper. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins on the entry. This is a more introspective Granite Syrah compared to other vintages. It’s powerful and a little austere with a slightly earthy, powdery finish. Give this three to four years in bottle if you can.

Granite uses grapes from two parcels on what is now Adi Badenhorst's Jakkalsfontein farm and is always a structured, dense, compact wine that handles its 100% whole bunches and 50% new wood lightly. Serious, dark and brooding, it has perfumed damson, wild herb and blackberry flavours and a savoury, sinewy finish.