- 100% Pinot Noir, sourced from a single vineyard, ‘Kaaimansgat’ farm – meaning Crocodile’s lair
- The site is 700m high and surrounded by dramatic mountains, with peaks that are are often snow-capped in winter
- Fermented using only native yeasts and this year with all fruit destemmed
- The total time in tank was 29 days with a 14 day post-fermentation maceration
- The wine was then transferred to barrel (20% new) where it remained for 11 months before bottling
Info
Producer:
Vintage:
2023
Country:
South Africa
Region:
Walker Bay
Appellation:
Elandskloof
Variety:
Pinot Noir
Color:
Red
Farming Practice:
Sustainable
Sizes Available
| Full Bottle | ZA-CRY-13-23 | 6/750ml |
Resources
Press & Reviews
Wine Advocate
Score
95
Date
2025-06-05
"This wine stands out for its very delicate and elegant approach. The aromas are bright and floral overall, with violet and heritage rose. The Crystallum 2023 Elandskloof Mabalel Pinot Noir (with 4,902 wax-capsule bottles created) reveals primary tones of cassis, sweet peach and citrusy orange peel. This wine is slightly darker in tonality compared to the others in this series. In terms of winemaking, the Mabalel sees all destemmed fruit, whereas the other wines include a percentage of whole cluster."
James Suckling
Score
94
Date
2024-11-25
"Light toast, earth and charred-bark aromas mingle with the red berry fruit. It's medium-bodied, sleek and full of flavor with expressive, very pinot-like porcini and earth undertones lingering. Delicious already but can hold."
Vinous
Score
92
Date
2024-09-19
"The 2023 Mabalel comes from Elandskloof and is 100% destemmed. Raised in around 25% new oak, this has an expressive bouquet with scents of Morello cherry, cranberry and hints of marmalade, all very seductive and well-defined. The palate is neatly balanced with fine tannins. It's a little more peppery than the Cuvée Cinema, revealing hints of bay leaf and white pepper toward the fine finish. This Pinot Noir should drink well for a decade or more."
REVIEWS FROM PAST VINTAGES
2021
Vinous
Score
91
Date
2022-09-29
2021
Wine Spectator
Score
91
Date
2023-06-02
"A juicy red, with heavy baked raspberry and crushed cherry fruit flavors, plus notes of fig cake, sweet smoke and woodsy spices. Features creamy tannins that form a supple frame for the expressive profile, with hints of grilled herbs, ash and spices playing on the finish. Drink now through 2028. 325 cases made, 15 cases imported."