Crystallum, The Agnes Chardonnay 2022

The Agnes Chardonnay is named after our Great Grandmother, Agnes Floyd, who arrived in South Africa at the tender age of 14. Sturdy in build and character, she is reputed to be the first lady to have had a driver's licence in the city of Cape Town. This multiple vineyard blend is made to reflect the resilience and strength of Agnes, with each vineyard contributing complexity to the final wine.

Sourced from select vineyards in the Hemel-en-Aarde and Overberg regions. 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. Fermented and aged in 228, 500-litre French oak barrels as well as in foudres. Naturally fermented in barrel, where it remains for 9 months before bottling. No SO2 or enzymes are added prior to fermentation.

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.