Clayshales Chardonnay

This Chardonnay pairs well with grilled lobster with lemon butter, butternut squash risotto, roast chicken with herbs and garlic, and goat cheese tart. The wine's acidity and complexity complement rich seafood dishes, creamy textures, and savory flavors.

The Clay Shales vineyard is situated at 300 meters above sea level in the Hemel-en-Aarde region, nestled in the mountains behind Hermanus in Walker Bay. The vineyard benefits from cooling Atlantic breezes that slow the ripening process, resulting in grapes with concentrated flavors and vibrant acidity. The soil composition of clay and shale naturally restricts vine vigor, leading to low yields of highly concentrated fruit. ​

The wine was aged for 10 months in 500-liter French and Austrian oak barrels, with 25% being new oak. This careful oak regimen imparts subtle complexity and enhances the wine's ageing potential.

The grapes were hand-harvested and gently pressed as whole clusters to obtain clear juice. After settling, the juice was transferred to 500-liter French and Austrian oak barrels (25% new) for natural fermentation with indigenous yeasts. The wine remained on its lees for 10 months, gaining textural complexity and depth. No filtration or cold stabilization was performed before bottling, preserving the wine's full character and intensity. ​

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.