Pinot Noir 'Cuvee Cinema'

Score

92

Score

98

Score

93

Score

90

Score

93

Score

90

"An elegant red, with a delicate skein of ground anise and white pepper winding through mulled cherry, plum sauce, iron and violet. Fresh and well-meshed, with fine tannins emerging on the finish. Drink now through 2028. 650 cases made, 15 cases imported."

Score

95

"Crystallum was founded in 2007 by third-generation winemaking brothers PeterAllan and Andrew Finlayson, who gave this vineyard its name inspired by the site's use as a filming location before they planted vines in 2009. This is wild yeast-fermented in tank with 60% whole clusters, then matured in barrel, 25% new, for 11 months. Anne Krebiehl MW: Lovely depth of fruit, tart but aromatic red cherry, really pure. Bright and snappy, lithe, soaring, bright. Elegant tannins, taut body, vivid. Justin Knock MW: Lovely berry fruit, savoury tannins – structured and fierce. A wine of strong intent, with a Campari-like finish. Dirceu Vianna Junior MW: Modern, alight with bright red fruits, elegant floral notes and a hint of spice. Wonderful purity of red forest fruits with a hint of spice."

Score

16.5

"Pale ruby. Rich and sweet and fun. Lots of breezy life and a hint of oak still. Slightly tough end but a good emissary of Hemel (though by no means the only one!). Real punch on the end. Long. 13.5%"

Score

92

"The 2022 Cuv,e Cinema has a little more cohesion on the nose compared to the Peter Max and Mabalel, with slightly darker fruit here, an underlying marine influence coming through with time. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiseled tannins, structured with fine grip, sour cherry mixed with raspberry and graphite and a long, saline finish. This is very promising."

Score

94+

"Opening to a darker, red-fruited nose, the 2022 Cuvee Cinema Pinot Noir leaps out of the glass with notes of potpourri and black tea with hints of oak spice. Medium-bodied, the palate offers a firm-gripping tannic edge and bright acidity that will either need time or food; I suspect both. It's still a baby and super tight, so be patient, give it time and start enjoying it in 2025. Just over 5,500 bottles were filled after resting for about a year in all French oak, 25% new. I can see where this is headed, and it's an absolute crusher of a bottle. Your patience will be rewarded."

Score

95

"An elegant, bright and red-fruited pinot noir exuding pomegranate, wild-strawberry, red-tea, iron and dried-orange aromas. It's medium-bodied, showing fantastic tightness and structure while retaining an airy quality. Lightly spicy pink-peppercorn character coming through. Try from 2025."

Score

93

"Picked before the rains, the 2023 Cuvée Cinema comes from the same parcel as the Clay Shales Chardonnay with high-density planting. It includes around 25% whole bunches and was matured in 20% new oak. Often one of Crystallum's strongest cards in the pack, this has a wonderful cranberry- and wild-strawberry-scented nose, with briar and light sous-bois scents percolating through with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a fine, sturdy backbone, but the tannins are finely tuned with a pure, lingering, savory/dried blood finish. Superb."