Crystallum Peter Max Pinot Noir 2024

Crystallum is a family winery in Walker Bay run by brothers Andrew and Peter-Allan, with a reputation built on Pinot Noir passed down through three generations. The Peter Max bottling blends several plots in the Hemel-en-Aarde valley, where cool ocean air off the South Atlantic, clay rich and weathered shale soils and a wide day-to-night temperature swing slow ripening and hold acidity. That cool site keeps the wine fresh and savoury despite its ripeness at 14.4 percent. Fermentation with a portion of whole bunches and native yeasts adds a peppery, floral lift and fine tannin, and barrel ageing gives slow oxygen exchange that rounds the texture and adds a light oak frame. The wine is bright ruby with aromas of cherry, red berries and plum over earth, dried herbs and a touch of spice. The palate is medium bodied with silky tannin, fresh acidity and a long, earthy finish. Serve at 15 to 16 degrees in a Burgundy glass. It pairs with duck, roast chicken and mushroom dishes.