Crystallum Clay Shayles Chardonnay 2023 750ml

The Clay Shales Chardonnay is a single-vineyard wine sourced from a site on the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, ideally situated in a mountain shadow at high altitude and near the ocean. Named after the Bokkeveld shale and clay soils in which it is grown, this wine benefits from an exceptional terroir, creating a balanced wine that rivals Grand Cru standards.

Whole-bunch pressed without the addition of enzymes, SO2, or commercial yeasts, the juice underwent an overnight rough settling. It was then transferred to a 2600L foudre, where fermentation and aging occurred over a period of 10 months.

Complex and arresting, this vintage combines the freshness of grapefruit and white pear with the richness and depth of banoffee pie. The palate is textured and pithy, featuring notes of salted macadamia and oatmeal alongside lemon peel. It’s a generous expression of the single vineyard site, with the fruit and acidity to age gracefully.