Crystallum The Agnes Chardonnay 2022

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Crystallum
The Agnes Chardonnay 2022

Vintage : 2022
Country : South Africa
Region : Walker Bay
Subregion
Type : White
Style : Creamy Full Bodied White
Format : 75cl
Alcohol : 13,5°
Grappes : 100% Chardonnay

Experts		Score	Vintage
VN	Vinous (Antonio Galloni)	92	2021
TA	Tim Atkin	93	2019
W&S	Wines & Spirits	90	2018
RP	Robert Parker	89	2014
JR	Jancis Robinson	16.5	2014

More information on wine critics and ratings

Tasting Note (PDF)

Description
Producer
Reviews
From the same producer

The sixth 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.

"The finest debut South African Chardonnay and Pinot Noir pair"

They are situated in the cool Walker Bay region, on South Africa's south coast around the town of Hermanus in the Hemel en Aarde valley.

Production at Crystallum is tiny at the moment. The brother's focus on sustainability runs from the vineyard through to the winery. A new straw bale winery is being built using recycled steel, clay and stone from the property and straw bales from a farm just up the road. They have also used a recycled paper and clay mix for plastering the walls, creating an entirely natural wall that should provide a constant, cool and naturally regulated environment for the wines.

Recently lauded by wine critic Matthew Jukes as "the finest debut South African Chardonnay and Pinot Noir pair" that he has ever tasted, these wines are going from strength to strength and are fast gaining a reputation for their superb quality.

Vinous (Antonio Galloni) (VN) : 92 Points (2021)

The 2021 Chardonnay The Agnes from Crystallum is tight and minerally on the nose, sharp and stony to the point where it can easily deceive you into thinking it comes from far cooler climes. The palate is fresh and tensile, almost steely, slightly malic in style with a penetrating finish that enlivens the senses. Peter-Allan Finlayson has crafted a wonderful wine; this is a minimalist take on a ubiquitous grape variety that is irresistible.

Tim Atkin (TA) : 93 Points (2019)

Now made from five vineyards across the Western Cape including, for the first time, one in high-altitude Ceres, Peter-Allan Finlayson's Chardonnay is a lightly wooded delight with savoury wild yeast undertones, citrus, pear and wet stone flavours and a taut, refreshing finish.

Wines & Spirits (W&S) : 90 Points (2018)

Brothers Andrew and Peter-Allan Finlayson are third-generation winemakers, choosing the family business over their backgrounds in architecture (Andrew) and economics (Peter-Allan). They established Crystallum in 2007, producing this chardonnay from their five estate vineyards in Hemel-en-Aarde. This wine is fermented in small French oak barrels where it ages for nine months, rounding its delicate structure. The cool-climate influence gives this an apple-skin acidity and waxy finish that would serve well with any dish deepened with the flavor of bacon.

Robert Parker (RP) : 89 Points (2014)

The 2014 The Agnes Chardonnay, a blend of different vineyards, has quite a refined, understated bouquet that is nicely defined with touches of flint and citrus lemon coming through with aeration. The palate is fresh and crisp, very tensile with a touch of bitter lemon on the entry. A little awkward at the moment, there is something almost Muscadet-like towards the finish, with a light sea-spray influence. Very fine.

Jancis Robinson (JR) : 16.5 Points (2014)

Four different vineyards, the biggest is in Overberg, but some grapes come from Lismore, and some from a vineyard outside Bot River that just escaped the sheep. Mix of barrel sizes and ages. Ambient yeast. Made like Chris Alheit because they share a cellar. Full malolactic fermentation. Cool nose and a slightly sweet palate entry. Chewy and serious but real chew.

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