Crystallum Wines, Newton Johnson Vineyards and Storm Wines
Live Virtual Auction, 3 April 2022
Session 1
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
About this Item
Based in the Walker Bay region of South Africa, Crystallum is run by brothers Peter-Allan and Andrew Finlayson, 3rd-generation winemakers who focus on Burgundy varieties. Within only a little over 15 years (interestingly the first vintage was a singular Sauvignon in 2007!) this outfit has positioned itself as one of the top proponents of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in South Africa. Awards locally and internationally are in fact unrivalled, and the wines are sold out every year on release.
Mabalel is named after a poem by the legendary South African polymath Eugene Marais, which tells the story of a local chieftain’s daughter of the same name who was ambushed while fetching water from the Limpopo river by the crocodile, Lalele. The vineyard is planted on ‘Kaaimansgat’ farm - meaning Crocodile’s lair - and a river flows past the vineyard. The site is 700m high and surrounded by dramatic mountains, with peaks that are are often snow-capped in winter.
Critics Ratings
‘Jammy dark fruit aromatics over sweet cola and a hint of smoke. Generous, soft and harmonious, with a persistent acidity that is really keeping the wine together and appetising. The slightest of earthy, leathery notes from bottle age adds a layer of complexity to the finish. Ready to be enjoyed. ‘ - Higgo Jacobs (Feb 2022)
‘From a high-lying young inland (Elandskloof) vineyard, 14 from all destemmed grapes. Concentrated & refined, marrying pure red berry fruit with spicy oak & long velvety exit. Well-judged oaking on all these pinots.’ – Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2016, 4.5*
‘Intense and interesting. Edgy but with masses of fine fruit in the middle. All within a herbal wreath. So much intensity and ambition from Andrew and Peter-Allan Finlayson. Really exciting!’ – Jancis Robinson (September 2016), 17.5/20
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