White Wine
Chardonnay
Sustainable
Dry
Residual Sugar: 2.00 g/l
Medium Bodied
750ml
14.00% alc./vol

Leeu Passant Chardonnay 2020

Stellenbosch, South Africa

96 Points - WineAlign
95 Points - Winemag.co.za

$101.95per bottle ($611.70per case)
6 bottles per case

Zesty & Bold

In 2013, husband & wife team Chris and Andrea Mullineux partnered with Analjit Singh (BAS) to establish Leeu Passant winery on the beautiful Leeu Estates in Franschhoek. The winery is dedicated to showcasing the South African landscape and climate, with a strong commitment to environmental stewardship and community upliftment. By working with some of the Cape’s oldest and most exceptional vineyards, they honour the country’s rich winemaking and viticultural heritage.

While capturing the Stellenbosch sunshine, this textured Chardonnay reflects its maritime climate with aromas of yellow grapefruit, wet-stone and a hint of Mebos. The vibrant palate delivers notes of Key lime sorbet followed by layers of stone-fruit and lemon curd. The touch of salinity and lush mouthfeel, is well balanced by a zesty acidity, leading up to a beautifully poised and defined finish.

About the Winery

Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines

Mullineux Family Wines, established in 2007 in the Swartland region of South Africa, is owned and managed by Chris and Andrea Mullineux. Since its inception the winery has established itself as one of South Africa’s most celebrated wine brands, both locally and internationally. Originally from Northern California, Winemaker Andrea Mullineux studied Viticulture and Oenology at UC-Davis before working in Stellenbosch and meeting Chris at a wine festival in Champagne. Chris is the Viticulturist in charge of the vineyards on their farm on Kasteelberg Mountain as well as fruit sourcing for their value Kloof Street wines.

The vineyards at Roundstone are farmed organically and are in the process of becoming Regenerative Organic certified. This involves practices like crop rotation, no-till farming, and eliminating chemical pesticides and fertilizers. These methods help rehabilitate soil, promote animal welfare, and improve farmers' livelihoods while sequestering carbon and producing healthier yields. In the winery, no additives are used aside from minimal sulfur dioxide, and all operations are IPW certified, following environmental best practices. Waste, including grape skins and lees, is recycled or repurposed, and cellar effluent is processed through an eco-friendly wetland system.

Press Reviews

WineAlign

96 Points - Michael Godel

For me this allows us to work with Chardonnay unlike anywhere else, from Chablis to other parts of the Western Cape," explains Chris Mullineux. In a way there is an extreme saltiness, made through death and resurrection, of no sulphuring for the first 18 months. Anything in the wine can and is oxidizing so it’s perfectly stable and then cleaned up ahead of bottling, racked off the lees post malo, then sulphured which binds the aldehydes and any oxidative properties so that it comes away so clean, and tight. You can do this so long as the vineyard site is tops. Chardonnay that is bullet proof, without the bends. Can age as well as any on the planet.

Winemag.co.za

95 Points - Christian Eedes

Grapes from a Helderberg vineyard 400m above sea level. Spontaneous fermentation before maturation lasting 20 months in 225-litre French oak barrels, 20 – 30% new. A reductive top note before citrus and some roasted almond. The palate is marked by bold fruit expression matched by an imposing line of acidity – this has weight and flavour intensity (alcohol is 14%) but remains tight and focused, the finish very dry and pithy.