Leeu Passant, a distinguished winery in Franschhoek and a collaboration between Analjit Singh and Chris and Andrea Mullineux, has once again secured its place at the pinnacle of the Cape wine industry. The winery received a series of high accolades in the 2024 South Africa Special Report by renowned British wine critic Tim Atkin MW, maintaining its status as a First Growth of South African wine and delivering three wines rated 95 points or higher in this year’s report.
The 2018 Leeu Passant Radicales Libres was celebrated as one of Atkin’s Chardonnays of the Year, achieving a remarkable 96 points. Similarly, the 2022 Leeu Passant Wellington Cinsault also garnered a 96-point score, securing its place as one of the Cinsaults of the Year, while the 2021 Leeu Passant Red Blend earned 95 points, placing it among the Red Blends of the Year. Additional wines that received high marks include the 2022 Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon (94 points), 2022 Stellenbosch Chardonnay (93 points), 2022 CWG Hillside Cabernet Franc (93 points), and 2022 Franschhoek Sémillon (92 points).
Andrea Mullineux highlights that maintaining First Growth status and having three wines featured on Tim Atkin’s Wines of the Year list exemplifies the standard of excellence Leeu Passant has pursued since its inception. “This involves identifying vineyards that embody the Cape’s rich grape-growing culture, sourcing unique parcels of exceptional terroir suited to specific varieties, and practicing minimum intervention winemaking with a touch of irreverence and adventure,” she explains.
A prime example of this innovative approach is the 2018 Leeu Passant Radicales Libres, a groundbreaking Chardonnay from the Klein Karoo region, which underwent extended barrel ageing for five years. Atkin describes it as having “a lovely combination of salty and savoury flavours, all wax, marzipan, toast, and bitter almonds with subtle baking spice top notes.”
Among the honoured wines, the 2022 Leeu Passant Old Vines Basson Cinsault was made from a heritage vineyard planted in 1900 in Wellington. According to Atkin, it produces “one of the best Cinsaults in the country,” characterized by “dense and concentrated” notes of black cherry, redcurrant, and tobacco leaf, with sinewy tannins and a savoury finish.
The flagship 2021 Leeu Passant cuvée showcases the diversity of Cape terroir, crafted from grapes sourced from various appellations. Atkin describes it as “structured yet refined, with rose petal, violet, and lead pencil aromas, layers of cranberry, dried herbs, and cassis, polished tannins, and lots of drive and energy.”
Analjit Singh, co-founder of Leeu Passant, emphasizes that this recognition from one of the world’s most respected wine critics underscores the values and ethos of the Leeu Passant brand. “Creating a bottle of wine involves so many components—nature, legacy, tradition, skilled and passionate people with a vision—that achieving harmony can be daunting,” says Singh. “But from day one, I never doubted that Leeu Passant would reach the goals we set for it. The reputation for excellence and distinction we have built for the Leeu Passant brand and our wines has been a career highlight since I first visited South Africa in 2010.”
