Clos Erasmus

There was a note in the nose of the 2022 Clos Erasmus that explained that it's friends with the Laurel. In 2022, the Syrah behaved quite well, and some of the Syrah from Erasmus went to Laurel because she didn't want too much Syrah in Erasmus, which can represent perhaps 20% of the blend with a majority of Garnacha. There's aromatic complexity and nuance, with tender notes of wild berries and flowers, some pit fruit, a touch of earth and some sweet spices and smoke. The meaty effect of the Syrah is more noticeable after one hour in the glass. It's medium-bodied, and the palate this year surprised me, because the wine is really fine-boned and elegant, without lacking ripeness or clout. This is certainly not shy at 15.5% alcohol. The tannins are super fine and elegant, with an ethereal quality to them. It's still quite young but approachable. 3,200 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2024.

The still young and primary 2020 Clos Erasmus feels very floral and ethereal (within Priorat and Clos Erasmus); it's a fresher and lighter expression but without being weak. It's still a baby that needs to burn the baby fat (there are still some lactic notes from the malolactic in barrel). The wine is always around 3.2 or 3.3 pH and has some 15% to 15.5% alcohol, but the sensation this year is of a much fresher, more balanced and elegant wine. This should make an elegant bottle of mature Priorat with a decade in bottle, and I guess it will be long lived. Glorian mentioned that a small lot that normally goes to Laurel was added to the blend of Erasmus, resulting in a lot of added freshness and a note of orange blossom, which makes sense to me with the floral character of the wines and the extra freshness I perceived. This is really beautiful. It's a very special vintage of Erasmus that unfurls incredible complexity and tantalizing aromas with time in the glass—blood orange (talk about freshness!), curry and cassis. It has great purity, complexity, elegance and finesse... A very different Clos Erasmus. Bravo! There are some 3,600 bottles. It was bottled in May 2022.