Crystallum - The Agnes - Chardonnay 2021
Crystallum Wines is located in Walker Bay , South Africa . It is a small, artisanal, limited-production winery established in 2007 by brothers Andrew and Peter-Allan Finlayson . They come from a family of pioneer winegrowers in the production of Pinot Noir in the ward of Hemel-en-Aarde , with the creation of Bouchard Finlayson in particular. Crystallum's first vintage in 2007 was made exclusively from Sauvignon Blanc, but the following year Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were added to the wine portfolio. Crystallum now focuses on Burgundian varieties . Crystallum produces approximately 700 cases per year; about 60% red wine and 40% white.
The Agnes Chardonnay is named after Finlayson's great-grandmother, Agnes Floyd, who came to South Africa when she was 14. Robust in her build and her character, she is reputed to be the first woman to have obtained a driving license in the city of Cape Town. This blend of multiple vineyards is crafted to reflect Agnès' resilience and strength, with each vineyard contributing to the complexity of the final wine. The Chardonnay grapes come from five vineyards in the regions of Hemel-en-Aarde and Overberg. The Agnes Chardonnay is produced using the traditional method of transferring whole bunches directly from harvest to the press and draining the juice into a settling tank. The wine is fermented and aged in French oak barrels of 228 and 500 liters , 10% of which are new . It is then naturally fermented in barrels , where it remains for 9 months before bottling.
Grape variety: 100% Chardonnay