Crystallum Clay Shales Chardonnay 2022

The single-vineyard ‘Clay Shales’ is in a cool-climate area just outside the Hemel-en-Aarde, which gives the wine lovely acid and balance, while the wild yeast fermentation adds superb texture. This is certainly one of South Africa’s best Chardonnays. Deeply concentrated and yet so deftly restrained, this vintage shows the tropical notes of lychee and banana, a savouriness from lemon thyme and oatmeal and steely spine of crushed stone. The tension alongside a citrus peel-textured acidity makes for a mouth-watering and seemingly endless finish. With plenty of structure to age, this promised to be a standout expression of the wine.