Clos Erasmus - Clos i TerrassesClos Erasmus - EKO 2021

The 2021 Clos Erasmus is not a shy wine and comes in at 15% alcohol but with a pH of 3.3. The search here is for balance, as power comes as a given in Priorat. It was produced with 70% Garnacha and 30% Syrah, mostly from 40-year-old vines, except for a small plot of around 85-year-old vines. The vineyards are certified organic, and they've practiced biodynamics since 2004 but never got certification. The vinification is simple and the same as for Laurel: the bunches cooled down for 24 hours before being sorted and destemmed, then the grapes were put into the vat, where they warm up and start fermenting with the indigenous yeasts. It was pressed and put in barrels, 40% of them new, where it underwent malolactic and aged for 18 months. It feels like the most elegant and ethereal Erasmus ever despite the 15% alcohol on the label. It's very young and feels a bit shy, slightly developing notes of Mediterranean herbs, wild berries and flowers and is a little closed but very harmonious and insinuating. It's medium to full-bodied, with very fine and elegant but abundant tannins. It does feel lighter than previous vintages, possibly the effect of the cooler year. 3,400 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2023.

One of the iconic wines and producers in Priorat, the 2021 Clos Erasmus is a gorgeous expression of the slate soils of Gratallops. Comprising 80% Garnatxa and 20% Syrah, it reveals pristine pomegranate and sour cherry aromas, complemented by dried flowers with unusual nuance and intensity. Dry, compact and light on the palate, it draws its energy from the fruit, creating a defined and lasting finish. This is a rare and delicious wine born under the Priorat sun in a mild vintage. Superb.
- By Joaquín Hidalgo on November 2024