Country: South Africa  Region: Cape South Coast  Vintage: 2015 Category: White Wine  Color: White 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 Agnes’ Chardonnay is a blend of different vineyards in the valleys inland from Hermanus. The wine has 10% of new oak, with the rest being aged in old oak and 10% being kept in tank to add freshness to the blend. The single vineyard ‘Clay Shales’ (so named because the vineyard has lots of clay and shale in the soil) is in a cool climate just outside the Hemel-en-Aarde, which gives the wine lovely acid and balance, while the wild yeast fermentation gives superb texture. This is certainly one of South Africa’s best Chardonnays. The same applies to his Pinot Noirs. The ‘Peter Max’ is made from fruit drawn from four different vineyards, two in the Hemel-en-Aarde, one near Clay Shales and one outside Villiersdorp. Peter used about 30-40% whole bunch, all wild ferment and a fairly long maceration to give a wine with nice lift, lovely grainy tannins, good balance and length. His ‘Cuvee Cinema’ is from a singe vineyard in Hemel-en-Aarde which forms 30% of ‘Peter Max’. The vineyard has 7,500 vines per hectare and is 300 metres above sea level, and 5 kilometres from the sea. It is ripe and delicious, its dark fruit character and extra depth setting it apart from the ‘Peter Max’. The ‘Malabel’ Pinot Noir, from a vineyard situated at 700 metres above sea level in the Villiersdorp area, has lovely ripe and lifted fruit with great intensity and freshness. Finally, the ‘Bona Fide’ Pinot Noir, like the Malabel, comes from a single vineyard, but in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. It is intense and concentrated with 40% whole bunch fermentation, which adds fragrance and spice. Liberty receives only a small allocation of these and there is never enough to go around! 'The Agnes' Chardonnay is a blend of different vineyards in the valleys inland from Hermanus. The wine has 10% of new oak, with the rest being aged in old oak and 10% being kept in tank to add freshness to the blend. The single vineyard 'Clay Shales' (so named because the vineyard has lots of clay and shale in the soil) is in a cool climate just outside the Hermel-en-Aarde, which gives the wine lovely acid and balance, while the wild yeast fermentation gives superb texture. This is certainly one of South Africa's best Chardonnays. The same applies to his Pinot Noirs. The 2015 'Peter Max' is made from fruit drawn from four different vineyards, two in the Hemel-en-Aarde, one near Clay Shales and one outside Villiersdorp. Peter used about 30-40% whole bunch, all wild ferment and a fairly long maceration to give a wine with nice lift, lovely grainy tannins, good balance and length. His 2014 'Cuvee Cinema' is from a singe vineyard in Hemel-en-Aarde which forms 30% of 'Peter Max'. The vineyard has 7,500 vines per hectare and is 300 metres above sea level, and 5 kilometres from the sea. It is ripe and delicious, its dark fruit character and extra depth setting it apart from the 'Peter Max'. The 'Malabel' Pinot Noir, from a vineyard situated at 700 metres above sea level in the Villiersdorp area, has lovely ripe and lifted fruit with great intensity and freshness. Finally, the 'Bona Fide' Pinot Noir, like the Malabel, comes from a single vineyard, but in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. It is intense and concentrated with 40% whole bunch fermentation, which adds fragrance and spice. Liberty receives only a small allocation of these and there is never enough to go around!" Winemaker: Peter-Allan Finlayson  Vineyards: The 2015 The Agnes Chardonnay is produced from three different vineyards in the Hemel en Aarde and Overberg regions. The soils of these vineyards range from heavy clay to intermediate shale and sandstone. The final blend retains the characteristics of these individual sites but attains an identity which is both unique and greater than the sum of its parts. Vinification: The Agnes was produced using the traditional method of transferring the whole grape clusters straight from harvesting into the press and running the juice off into a settling tank. The juice was then transferred the next day into 228 litre French oak barrels, 10% of which were new. Fermentation occurred naturally in barrel, where it remained for nine months before bottling. Tasting Notes: The seventh vintage of The Agnes is concentrated and beautifully balanced. The nose is wonderfully expressive with notes of lime, grapefruit, nectarine and ripe peach. The palate is intense and layered with a strong fruit core and lovely fresh acidity. Food Suggestion: Tasty fish and lightly spiced foods will suit this wine perfectly. Closure: Stelvin  ABV: 13.5%