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• Origin: Priorat, Catalonia, Spain
• Appellation: D.O.Q. Priorat
• Grape Varietals: Garnatxa (Grenache) and Syrah
• Alcohol Percentage: approx. 15–15.5%
• Style: Monumental, refined, enormous length
• Aging Potential: Now to 2050+
• Rating: 100/100 Wine Advocate
Clos Erasmus 2020 is an iconic Priorat with a striking "Burgundian" precision within a powerful Mediterranean framework. The nose reveals black cherry, blackberry, and ripe plum, intertwined with violets, licorice, cedar, soft spices, and a distinct smoky-slate accent. On the palate, the wine is deep and layered, with a velvety texture, ripe but firm tannins, and a fresh backbone that keeps the richness tight. The finish is exceptionally long, serene, and mineral, with dark fruit and spice lingering for minutes.
Vinification.
The grapes are hand-harvested and vinified separately by vineyard/parcel. Fermentation occurs with natural yeasts in French oak fermentation vats, followed by a gentle maceration of about one month to build depth without hardness. The wine then ages for approximately 17 months in 228L French barriques (a mix of new and second-fill), which imparts structure and complexity without masking the terroir. The final blend is assembled after barrel aging.
The Estate.
Clos i Terrasses is Daphne Glorian's life's work in Gratallops and belongs to the absolute pioneers who put Priorat back on the world map from the late 1980s onwards. The estate operates on a small scale and is extremely selective, with very low yields and a strong focus on terroir and precision. The vineyards are located on llicorella (slate) and are managed organically and environmentally consciously, with a lot of manual labor and attention to soil health and biodiversity. In the cellar, the approach is deliberately non-interventionist: natural yeasts, gentle extraction, and patient élevage. As a result, Clos Erasmus is not only powerful but, above all, exceptionally refined, with enormous aging potential. Only 3600 bottles produced.
