Producer. Crystallum is the Hemel-en-Aarde label of brothers Peter-Allan and Andrew Finlayson, founded in 2007 and focused only on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Alongside the multi-vineyard Peter Max, Peter-Allan makes a small line of single-vineyard wines, one site per bottle.
Vineyard. Cuvée Cinéma comes from a 1.6-hectare plot in the heart of the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, five kilometres from the coast at 300 metres, planted in 2009 with high-density Dijon clones. The year before planting, scenes for a film about Napoleon were shot on the site, which gave the wine its name.
Style. 100% Pinot Noir. Perfumed and dense, with pomegranate, black cherry and spice, and a faintly saline finish.
Vintage. 2025 in the Cape followed a cold, wet winter with a dry, mild growing season, giving slow, even ripening.
Drinking. Open 15 to 20 minutes before serving, slightly cool at around 16°C. Good with roast goose or pigeon. Drinks well now and will keep for a few years.