- 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
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."