Pinot Noir “Bona Fide” 2021 Crystallum

To produce the Pinot Noir “Bona Fide” Crystallum fermentation occurred spontaneously with no commercial yeasts added. 50% of the grapes were fermented as whole clusters, with the rest destemmed but left intact as whole berries. Total time on skins was six weeks after which the wine spent 11 months in 228L French oak barriques, 20% of which was new.

The “Bona Fide” Pinot Noir is produced from a single vineyard in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley area of Walker Bay. This single site is characterised by heavy clay and decomposed shales. The heavy soils create stress for the vines resulting in a wine of great concentration and flavour while maintaining freshness and elegance, typical of the Hemel-en-Aarde area.

Crystallum is a small winery 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 winemaking has evolved. All of the wines are now fermented using indigenous yeasts and new oak has been reduced to help the bright fruit shine through.