Clos Erasmus, Priorat, Laurel

Opaque purple-garnet at the core, with light bricking at the rim - Dried rose petal, violet, cigar box, black pepper, clove, nutmeg, anise, cassis, sour cherry, and a bit of tar on the nose. Palate carries over, with vibrant fruit accents and solid structure. Peak drinking for my palate, and if kept well this should probably go strong for at least another 5 years or so.

Tasted blind. Raspberry, cranberry coulis, cool and delicate with a glacial purity to the chalk-infused fruit. In the mouth this is silken, finishing on a bitter touch that contrasts the fruit sweetness. All I can think is how everything is so full of flavor but delicately framed with sleek, detailed lines. Magical stuff, I guess the grape is Pinot just because hardly anything can do all that's happening here. Quite a surprise!

Tasted alongside the 01 Erasmus and this presented as the fresher and more structured wine. The Erasumus clearly won on sophistication and depth, but the Laurel held its own in terms of personality and exuberance. This wine continues to set the standard for affordable Priorat.

A gem, now at peak. Luscious, sweet cherry fruit, bright acidity and still showing substantial backbone. Drink now and over the next few years,

1 hr decant, this is certainly a big lush wine with impressive fruit and red/blue flavors that once your tongue gets accustomed to delivers a flavorful experience. The wall of tannins make this a lush soft if not muted profile. Not sure how this would evolve from here, but the tannins are significant and while not showing wood influence certainly affect the beauty of the wine.

Excellent QPR. Had a new world, fruit-driven quality that was unexpected.

Huge bouquet, mineral, menthol, cherry liqueur. Piercing acidity, lush fruit still quite fresh. Substantial tannin, though buffered by the abundance of fruit. Simply delicious juice, and in no peril of old age, I predict this should drink well for at least several more years. This wine continues to be a benchmark for Priorat wines, regardless of price.

Still aromatically interesting with a lavender note dominant. Fruit still holding, but starting to dry up a bit. Has a great mineral underpinning that holds everything together & frames this medium weight wine. Paired well with a skirt steak that was grilled medium rare, but was supposed to be medium (chef's recommendation). Very enjoyable, but if you still have this in your cellar, I'd drink sooner rather than later.

Super minerals, well structured and intense fruit. Quite tannic, and still youthful and fresh; Possibly not even at peak yet. Drink or hold.

Fairly ripe, not as wonderful as bottles I've had in Europe...

The Laurel Priorat has a very dark nose with black cherries, vanilla and mushrooms. The taste is magnificent with black and red cherries. There is almost a candy underlayment in the fruit but there is still plenty of acid and tannin to improve the wine. It is a real mouthfull of fruit and casis. This wine should continue to improve over the next five to ten years.