Crystallum - The Agnes - Chardonnay 2023
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 are from a family of winemakers who pioneered the production of Pinot Noir in the Hemel-en-Aarde ward , notably with the creation of Bouchard Finlayson. The first vintage of Crystallum in 2007 was made exclusively from Sauvignon Blanc, but the following year , Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have been added to the wine portfolio. Crystallum now focuses on Burgundy varieties . Crystallum produces about 700 cases per year; about 60% red wine and 40% white.
The Agnes Chardonnay is named after Finlayson's great-grandmother, Agnes Floyd, who arrived in South Africa at the age of 14. Robust in build and character, she is renowned for being the first woman to have obtained a driver's license in the city of Cape Town. This multi-vineyard blend is designed to reflect the resilience and strength of Agnes, with each vineyard contributing to the complexity of the final wine. The Chardonnay grapes are sourced from five vineyards in the Hemel-en-Aarde and Overberg regions. The Agnes Chardonnay is produced using the traditional method of transferring whole bunches of grapes directly from harvest to the press and draining the juice into a settling tank. The wine is fermented and aged in 228 and 500 liter French oak barrels , 10% of which are new . It is then naturally fermented in barrels , where it remains for 9 months before bottling.
Grape variety: 100% Chardonnay