Crystallum, `Clay Shales` Chardonnay
Country: South Africa Region: Cape South Coast
Varietal: Chardonnay Vintage: 2022
Category: White Wine Style: Dry
Producer: Crystallum
"This small winery was established in 2007 by brothers Peter-Allan and Andrew Finlayson. Their father, Peter, was a pioneer in the production of cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir at Bouchard Finlayson, so after university it seemed the natural thing for the boys to return home and source some fruit from the Hemel-en-Aarde valley to start their own label.
Crystallum is now one of the most highly regarded wineries in South Africa. Yet the Finlaysons are determined to make even better wines. Peter-Allan has sourced fruit from some new vineyards, while the winemaking has evolved as well. All the wines are now wild fermented, and new oak has been reduced to help the bright fruit shine through.
The Clay Shales Chardonnay is a single-vineyard wine from a site on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge that is ideally located in a mountain shadow, at high altitude and near the ocean. The wine is named after the Bokkeveld shale and clay soils on which it is grown, which combine to provide the perfect base for a balanced, Grand Cru-rivaling wine.
Winemaker: Peter-Allan Finlayson
Vineyards:
The single vineyard Clay Shales Chardonnay (so named because the vineyard has lots of clay and shale in the soil) is made from fruit grown 300 metres above sea level in the mountains behind the town of Hermanus in the Walker Bay. This region is characterised by a cool climate that results in delayed ripening and a late harvest. The soil composition allows for optimum fruit development while naturally restricting vigour, giving lovely acid and balance.
Vinification:
The grapes were brought to the cellar in small crates and pressed whole bunch into tank. The juice was then settled and racked into 228 litre French oak barrels, 17% of which were new, the remainder between three and six years old. The wine fermented naturally in barrel to give superb texture, and remained on its lees for 10 months. It was then racked into other barrels and bottled by hand with no filtration or cold stabilisation.
Tasting Notes:
Classic flint on the nose with floral, lemon, pear and peach notes. The palate is beautifully balanced with a lovely play between a fruit core and steely backbone. A saline element and succulent, juicy texture add to the complexity of this intriguing wine.
Food Suggestion: A great match for dishes with sauces made of cream or crème fraîche, and densely textured fish such as salmon, monkfish or turbot.
Closure: Natural Cork ABV: 14.5%
