ORGANICALLY FARMED
Daphne Glorian took a big risk in 1988 when she spent her savings on a collection of vineyards in the sunny Mediterranean area of Priorat, with its steep, terraced hills covered with crumbly, black slate soils. While it had an old winemaking tradition, it was a backwater in the world of fine wine. It paid off, as her flagship wine, Clos Erasmus, is now one of Spain's finest wines and sells for close to $300.00. Fortunately for us she makes a 2nd bottling, called Laurel, that's sourced from the same organically farmed vineyards. Rather than a value version of Clos Erasmus, it's meant to be its own wine: a more supple and youthfully expressive take on the powerful Priorat style. Part of that difference comes from the 18-month aging process that involves a modern combination of large and small oak barrels, concrete, and clay amphorae, which creates a unique layering of textures and flavor sensations.
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."
Daphne Glorian took a big risk in 1988 when she spent her savings on a collection of vineyards in the sunny Mediterranean area of Priorat, with its steep, terraced hills covered with crumbly, black slate soils. While it had an old winemaking tradition, it was a backwater in the world of fine wine. It paid off, as her flagship wine, Clos Erasmus, is now one of Spain's finest wines and sells for close to $300.00. Fortunately for us she makes a 2nd bottling, called Laurel, that's sourced from the same organically farmed vineyards. Rather than a value version of Clos Erasmus, it's meant to be its own wine: a more supple and youthfully expressive take on the powerful Priorat style. Part of that difference comes from the 18-month aging process that involves a modern combination of large and small oak barrels, concrete, and clay amphorae, which creates a unique layering of textures and flavor sensations.
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."
Overall Rating
5 out of 5 Based on 1 Review
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29th Dec 2021
Excellent, well balanced wine
This is a great wine. Approachable and well balanced fruit. Highly recommend.
