Crystallum 'Peter Max' Pinot Noir 2020

Crystallum “Peter Max” Pinot Noir 2020
Airy, aromatic, and quietly seductive, this South African Pinot Noir opens with cranberry, pomegranate, bruised strawberry, and rosemary, with a darker undercurrent of olives and forest floor. It's a bit wild, savory, and 'silky-crunchy'. If you like Russian River Pinot Noirs, we dare you to try this.

Key Details:

Producer: Crystallum — a small, highly regarded South African winery founded by brothers Peter-Allan and Andrew Finlayson, known for expressive Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from cool-climate coastal vineyards. The estate has become one of the leading names in modern South African fine wine, with a style that leans toward purity, site expression, and restraint.

Region / Appellation: Western Cape, South Africa. The fruit for Peter Max comes from several vineyards in and around the Hemel-en-Aarde area, along with a high-altitude inland site, bringing together maritime freshness and inland structure.

Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir

Vintage: 2020

Style / ABV: Dry red wine; 14% ABV. The wine is made with a portion of whole clusters and aged in French oak, meaning bright acidity meets spiced tannins.

Why It’s Special: Peter Max has become one of Crystallum’s calling cards — a wine that shows just how exciting Pinot Noir can be in the Cape. It brings together multiple carefully chosen vineyard sources, giving the wine both brightness and depth, while the wild herbal and savory notes make it feel distinctly South African rather than borrowed from somewhere else.

Food Pairing: This is also the kind of bottle that overdelivers at a table full of small plates — olives, popcorn, anything with salmon, roast vegetables, and grilled meats.