Clos Erasmus

Laurel Priorat Garnacha Blend 2021

9.3

This is a stunning Garnatxa blend from Priorat (Catalonia), Spain!!

It’s comprised of mostly Garnatxa (Grenache), along with Syrah, and, to a lesser extent, Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from three parcels in the sun-soaked village of Gratallops, where Daphne Glorian purchased her first vineyard – Clos Escales – back in 1989 when she founded Clos i Terraces. 🍇

In making this move, she joined equally passionate and pioneering winemakers Álvaro Palacios (L’Ermita) and René Barbier (Clos Mogador) in a rebirth of production practices in the region; as a group (with other similar-minded producers) they altered the trajectory of Priorat’s profile as a source of tip top quality wines rivaling the best on the world stage. 👏🏻

Priorat is one of only two regions carrying the “DOCa” / “DOQ” quality designation (the other is Rioja), subject to various stipulations including regular auditing by a tasting panel. ✅

This particular wine is “Laurel” which is Clos i Terraces’s second wine, next to Clos Erasmus, one of Priorat’s finest and most sought-after wines. Yet it tastes like a flagship wine in and of itself.🫶🏻🫶🏻

It is absolutely beautiful, with a medium ruby hue, medium (+) intensity of ripe and fresh strawberry, red cherry, red plum, violet, black licorice, fennel, clove, baking spice aromas and flavors. It’s dry, with medium(+) acidity, a medium(+) body, high alcohol (14% ABV), and medium tannins that are fine-grained. 😆

This wine vinified and aged in a combination of vessels, including, large oak vats, concrete tanks, second and third fill French oak barrels, and clay amphorae, lending to its texture and complexity.👌🏻👌🏻
— 6 days ago

Peter, Shay and 13 others liked this

Bob McDonald

@Vanessa There is a great movie about the rebirth of Priorat featuring Daphne, Alvaro Palacios and Rene Barbier and others called “Dreaming of Wine”. I thoroughly recommend it.

Vanessa

@Jay Kline Cheers! 🥂

Vanessa

@Bob McDonald Thank you so much for this fabulous recommendation. 🙏🏻 We’re definitely going to track that movie down and cannot wait to watch it! 🍷🍷

Bodegas La Cartuja

Priorat Garnacha Cariñena 2018

Peter Sultan

8.9

No notes. Has shelf life as tannins still integrating. More stony & blue notes, & unusually low price tag for a Priorat. Wine #3 in line up for family. — 2 months ago

Jamie, Tom and 2 others liked this

Celler Cecilio

Black Slate Porrera Vi de la Vila Priorat Garnacha Blend 2019

Diane Heyboer

9.0

Totally enjoyed this one. Blackberry, black plum, and black cherry notes. Bigger body with a bit of vanilla and oak. The dry tannins get absorbed by the fruit and they balanced out quite nicely. Already bought another bottle! — 17 days ago