‘Oenophiles want to drink Crystallum!’ enthuses Neal Martin. At Brice & Burnett, we find every reason to collect them, rave about them, and drink them. Lucky for us, the 2025s are exceptional and – with minute quantities available – this is a rare opportunity to secure some of South Africa’s most distinctive Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs.
We’re always impressed by the single vineyards from Peter-Allan Finlayson, but the 2025s are a step up in terms of concentration and finesse.
The Shaw’s Mountain vineyard has been a classified ward since 2024 and brings us the spectacular Ferrum Chardonnay 2025. It has just the right amount of reduction before giving way to textured white stone fruit, lemon curd, bright orange citrus, and a deep salinity.
If you’re a fan of flavourful, powerful whites, you’ll love the concentration, limey acidity and chalky texture in the Clay Shales 2025. It’s brilliantly done with power in the back guaranteeing a long life ahead.
Textbook Elandskloof, the Mabalel 2025 is light-footed and flavourful. Textured and savoury, it offers notes of pressed hibiscus flowers, oolong tea and inky red fruit. If you prefer a Pinot with gravitas, this is the one.
The Shaw’s Mountain vineyard also produces the pure and structured Litigo Pinot Noir 2025. With 70% whole bunch, its brightness is unwavering, with notes of deep cranberry and black cherry, grapefruit zest and a pithy texture, offering so much intrigue.
Next is a Pinot that’s so delicate and tightly coiled, it takes over four hours in the glass to truly show how gorgeous it is. The Cuvée Cinéma 2025 is a highlight of this release, but make sure you leave it in your cellar for the next two years before drinking. There’s so much fine texture, delineated fruit and savoury complexity.
Nuanced and expressive, these wines underscore Crystallum’s position as a category leader.
See the entire Crystallum range here >
Tasting Notes:
Crystallum Ferrum Chardonnay 2025
‘A coiled and energetic vintage that is both zesty and mineral. Green apple, white peach, nectarine and lemongrass lead the aromas with sea spray adding freshness and balance. White flowers emerge over time, as do savoury notes of bay leaf and pistachio and even a touch of ginger. The palate is taut and precise, with a limey freshness and tang complementing subtle meringue notes towards a lingering finish.’ – Winemaker
Crystallum Clay Shales Chardonnay 2025
‘All of the layers of the high scoring 2024 with arguably even more concentration, precision and focus. Quince, litchi and lemon rind on the nose before a lavish, expressive palate showing lime curd, banoffee, golden delicious apple and loquat – all cut into by a wet stone acidity. Tension and energy up front, long-lasting layers on the finish. Ageworthy beyond 2035.’ – Winemaker
Crystallum Mabalel Pinot Noir 2025
‘Pretty, ethereal and perfumed — the nose showing raspberries, wild strawberry, tomato leaf and green tobacco. The mouthfeel is juicy and supple, with rhubarb, cranberry, orange peel and a touch of briny salinity at the end that refreshes the palate and lifts the wine. A linear, precise and elegant vintage.’ – Winemaker
Crystallum Litigo Pinot Noir 2025
‘The fifth harvest from our Shaw’s mountain vineyard — and the maturity shows. Damson, mulberry and sage define the nose, while the palate is dense with a decadent core of fruit, notably cranberry and black forest cake. Dry, black tea-like tannin and a lifted, spearminty freshness brings length and brightness to counter the opulent fruit profile towards a long finish.’ – Winemaker
Crystallum Cuvée Cinéma Pinot Noir 2025
‘A coiled and complex expression of the famous site; vivid rose and violets burst forth early on the nose as well as strawberry, pink musk candy, blood orange peel and sumac. Layers of cranberry, black cherry and sweet spices alongside a powerful, grippy palate lead towards a focused finish defined by a kelpy salinity. Weighty and yet beautifully ethereal.’ – Winemaker
