Crystallum Clay Shales Chardonnay 2023

Lemon meringue, apple blossom and lime leaf are bolstered by arresting tropical notes of litchi and pineapple on the nose. A rindy, flinty mouthfeel adds a pithy and moreish texture on the palate while peach and buttered popcorn combine towards a remarkably long finish.

Crystallum is a family-run and privately-owned winery based in the Walker Bay region of South Africa.

Brothers Andrew and Peter-Allan are the third generation of Finlayson winemakers and sons of the man who pioneered Pinot Noir winemaking in the Hemel-en-Aarde region. Andrew is an architect by training and Peter-Allan a student of philosophy and economics, but it didn’t take long for the lure of wine to take effect, with Andrew drawn to the vineyards and Peter-Allan to the cellar.

The company was founded in 2007 when it produced just over four thousand bottles of Sauvignon Blanc. The following vintage saw the introduction of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and Crystallum now produces these Burgundian varieties exclusively, making up its collection with multi-vineyard blends and single-vineyard wines.