CRYSTALLUM THE AGNES CHARDONNAY WESTERN CAPE 2024 750ml

A PRECIOUS WINE

Crystallum, founded in 2007 by brothers Andrew and Peter-Allan Finlayson, is a family-owned winery in South Africa’s Walker Bay region. As third-generation winemakers, sons of Bouchard Finlayson’s Pinot Noir pioneer Peter Finlayson, they focus exclusively on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Based in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Crystallum sources grapes from select vineyards, emphasizing low-intervention winemaking with native yeasts. Their sustainable practices and innovative blends have earned global acclaim, with Peter-Allan named Tim Atkin MW’s South African Winemaker of the Year in 2021. Crystallum’s wines reflect the region’s cool-climate terroir, blending tradition and modernity.
The 2024 Crystallum The Agnes Chardonnay is a blend from five vineyards in Hemel-en-Aarde and Overberg, grown on shale and clay soils. Hand-harvested grapes undergo whole-bunch pressing, with juice settled in tanks before fermentation in French oak barrels (5–10% new) using native yeasts. The wine ages 11 months on lees, enhancing texture, and is bottled unfiltered. Yields are low, around 35 hl/ha, with 13.5% alcohol. Malolactic fermentation softens acidity, creating a balanced, expressive Chardonnay. The cool maritime climate and varied terroir contribute to its complexity and minerality.

TASTING NOTE:

The 2024 Crystallum The Agnes Chardonnay offers a pale gold hue with vibrant clarity. Its nose reveals yellow stone fruits, sea shells, and flint, with hints of golden delicious apple and lime. The palate is full and mouth-coating, balancing salted caramel, beeswax, and citrus with a saline, nori-like finish. This precise, Chablis-like Chardonnay combines generous fruit with a mineral backbone, showcasing elegance and structure. Ideal with seafood or creamy pasta, it’s approachable now but will evolve for 5–8 years. Decant for 30 minutes to enhance its layered complexity.