2019 Mullineux, Iron Syrah, Swartland, South Africa

The Iron is always the richest and most intense of the three Mullineux single terroir syrahs and this quality really puts it in its element in 2019. It already tastes utterly lovely with dark blackberry and blueberry fruit coming through, complemented by savoury notes of chargrilled meat and toast. The wine manages to combine this ripeness of fruit in perfect harmony with the more complex, savoury character.

It is really stunning. There is such a lovely succulence of fruit on the palate. Once again, beautiful balance and harmony prevail with such impressive layers of flavour. Rolling red and black fruit dominates and the wine feels almost rich in its concentration, yet this has none of the cloying heaviness that you might associate with a Shiraz version of this variety.

This is still most definitely a Syrah, just a wonderfully, gorgeously concentrated one. Notes of dark fruit, chargrilled meat and toast persist on the rewarding and exceptionally long finish. This is a wine that would go rather fabulously with a rich beef stew. Yum.

Catriona Felstead MW, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd