Crystallum 'Peter Max' Pinot Noir 2023
The Crystallum ‘Peter Max’ Pinot Noir is made with grapes sourced from five different vineyards, including two in the Hemel-en-Aarde, one near Clay Shales, one outside Villiersdorp and a new high altitude, inland site. Peter and Max are the first names of the growers who supplied the fruit for the first vintage of this wine. The different sites experience altitude and cooling sea breezes, which slow down the grape ripening process, resulting in grapes with excellent concentration of flavour and balanced, fresh acidity. After fermentation the wine was aged in 228 litre and 500 litre, lightly toasted French oak barrels for nine months, 10% of which was new. The wine was bottled after a light filtration. A slightly more savoury and distinctly Burgundian expression featuring enhanced earthiness from cloves and tree bark. The red fruits are there in abundance, most notably wild strawberries and rhubarb, while there is a red apple skin quality to the tannins. The finish is all crushed mulberries and salted cherries, adding a moreish finish that makes the wine dangerously drinkable in spite of its ageing potential.
