2016 Clos Erasmus Priorat
SKU #1425288
99 points
Jeb Dunnuck
Not far off the magical 2013, the 2016 Clos Erasmus shows the purity and freshness of the vintage yet backs it up with rock star depth of fruit and richness. A huge nose of blueberries, crème de cassis, blood orange, and violets give way to a full-bodied Priorat that has flawless balance and purity, a stacked mid-palate, ripe tannins, and a finish that goes on for over a minute. This is pure, elegant, yet powerful Priorat at its finest. The 2016 is a blend of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah that spent 18 months in 40% new oak. Give bottles 2-3 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 15-20 years.
(4/2019)
95-99 points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
I sampled a number of different barrels that will contribute to the blend of the 2016 Clos Erasmus, which should be bottled around May 2018, and I couldn't help but to report on what promises to be a fresh and balanced year. I tasted Syrah and Garnacha from two vineyards (Escales and Socarrat) from new and second use Taransaud barrels that showed very young and precise, somewhat tender, with very precise flavors and velvety texture. There might be some 2,500 bottles of the 2016. But not all of the Syrah will make it into the blend, and there is also a 700-liter amphora I didn't taste that will also be a component of the final blend (but usually not all 700 liters of it). In addition, I tasted some seven different components of the 2016 Laurel that also looked to be phenomenal! (LG)
(4/2018)
K&L Notes
The story of Clos Erasmus, one of the founding group of "Clos" (tiny estates) to place a huge bet on the rustic and rural Priorat region 30 years ago, is one of the modern wine world's modern day legends. Proprietor Daphne Glorian picked up her things and moved her life from the French side of the Pyrenees to Priorat. While the remoteness and rugged conditions of Priorat do not necessarily make for what is the good life, it is safe to say that Daphne's bet was well placed. This single village, three vineyard (Escales, Aubagues and Socarrats) cuvee always earns scores in the high 90s. In fact, this vintage's perfect score is not its first, having earned the same 100 point scores in 2013 (in two publications), 2005, and 2004. Apart from scores, the story of Clos Erasmus and the resurgence of a once largely abandoned region in southern Catalunya is one of romance, renewal, entrepreneurial spirit, and hard work, as well as lots of delicious, intensely fruited Priorat wine, of course!
