Crystallum Mabalel Pinot Noir 2024 750ml

Mabalel takes its name from a poem by the esteemed South African polymath Eugene Marais. The poem recounts the tale of Mabalel, a local chieftain’s daughter who was ambushed by the crocodile Lalele while fetching water from the Limpopo River. The vineyard itself is situated on the ‘Kaaimansgat’ farm, translating to Crocodile’s Lair, with a river running adjacent to the vines. Nestled at an elevation of 700 meters, the site is encircled by dramatic mountains, their peaks frequently capped with snow during winter.

This wine was naturally fermented with 100% destemmed fruit. Extraction was minimized during active fermentation, with a total of four weeks on the skins.

This wine opens with a nose of ripe red fruits like red plum and cranberry, complemented by a pleasant, reductive “linty” note, tomato leaf, star anise, and nutmeg. The palate is compact, generous, and fruit-forward, supported by cocoa nibs and sappy tannins that create a wonderfully elongated finish.