PRODUCT OVERVIEW

Proprietor/Winemaker Daphne Glorian is widely regarded as one of the driving forces in the development of modern-day winemaking in the Priorat. From its origins in the late 1980s, when Daphne spent her life savings to purchase 17 terraces of vineyards in the village of Gratallops, Clos Erasmus has been one of the most highly sought out and collected wines from Spain. Out of 25 vintages, 14 have been rated 97-100 points by Robert Parker. The wine typically sells for $200 plus upon release and can regularly found at auction for upwards of $800 to $1000 a bottle.

Now here is the thing: the production of Clos Erasmus is limited to 3000 bottles a year, which means that after the final barrel selection is completed, there are inevitably a number of barrels that remain. This is the wine that is being featured today... LAUREL. 

Laurel is made from the same grape source as the Clos Erasmus, and the winemaking is for all intents and purposes the same. The primary difference takes place after the final barrel selection is completed, where the Laurel is bottled and released a bit earlier than the Clos Erasmus. Press on Laurel has historically been outstanding as well averaging between 94-95 pts from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. At roughly a quarter of the price, this wine represents one of the great wine values of the world at its regular market price. As part of Bin Ends BUY THE PAIR feature, the 2016 Clos Erasmus Laurel Priorat is an absolute barn burner of a bargain. 

PRODUCT REVIEW:
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 96 points
The 2021 Laurel, the second wine from Clos Erasmus was produced with grapes from younger vines, between five and 40 years old, and is a blend of 80% Garnacha, 11% Syrah and 9% Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes were cooled down for 24 hours before sorting and destemming and then put in the vat where they warmed up and started fermenting naturally. They did a soft vinification with short pumping overs to avoid extraction, and the fermentation lasted two to three weeks followed by four weeks of maceration. The wine matured in oak vat, barrel and amphorae for 18 months. It's super aromatic, floral and expressive, clean and elegant, delicate and ethereal. It has a velvety palate that is nicely textured, seamless, elegant and balanced and with a focused, clean, long finish. I see the meaty side of Syrah here. It has 14.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.3. The oak is completely integrated despite the fact that the wine is very young. 28,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2023.

PRODUCT DETAILS:
Producer Name: Clos Erasmus
Old/New World: Old World
Country of Origin: Spain
Region: Catalonia
Appellation: Priorat DOQ
Village/Vineyard/Climat: Gratallops
Grape Varietals: Garnacha, Syrah, & Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2021
Product Type: Wine
Viticultural Techniques: Certified Organic/Biodynamic
Vinification Techniques:
Fermentation in a combination of oak, concrete egg, and clay amphorae. Aged for 16-18 months in 20hl oak barrels and clay amphorae.
Wine Style: Fuller Body Red
Winemaker: Daphne Glorian
ABV: 14.5%
Pack/Size: 6/750 ml
Container Type: Dark Green Glass Bottle
Closure Style: Natural Cork