Monday Newsletter 06-06-2022

Joe Czerwinski “A terrific bottle of Roussillon wine, with a long, elegant finish” Jeb Dunnuck “A powerful yet elegant red”

Les Vignerons de Tautavel Cotes du Roussillon Villages Tautavel Silex France  2017
Ownership: Coop Terres Plurielles
Jeb Dunnuck 93-95 points “The 2017 Cotes Du Roussillon Villages Tautavel Silex might end up matching (or even surpassing) the 2016. The same 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 10% Carignan brought up in tank, it offers a ripe, medium to full-bodied, straight-up sexy style to go with complex notes of kirsch, black olives, black licorice, and dried garrigue. It’s a powerful yet elegant red that has tons of potential.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 93 points ” A blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Carignan from old vines, the 2017 Côtes du Roussillon Villages Tautavel Silex is partly aged in barrel and part in tank. It delivers just enough cedar on the nose to let you know there’s barrel influence, without overwhelming the terroir-derived hints of crushed stone or the varietal notes of dark berries. Full-bodied, concentrated and supple, it’s a terrific bottle of Roussillon wine, with a long, elegant finish.”

Single Bottles Listed Price: $24 you’ll pay: $21.60 
Case-6 Listed price: $138 ($23 per bottle) You’ll pay: $124 ($20.70 per bottle) 
Case-12 Listed price: $259 ($21.60 per bottle) You’ll pay: $233.10 ($19.40 per bottle)  
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

How does the special work? 

If you’re purchasing online, the discount will be applied to the listed price before processing your order. Or, if you’re making your order over the phone we will apply the discount at the time of invoicing. And, if you’re shopping with us in-store just mention that you’re a newsletter subscriber to have us apply the discount during checkout. 

When does the Sale end?    

Midnight Wednesday, June 8th, 2022  

Looking for meticulously farmed Chardonnay that walks the line between the Côte-d’Or and Chablis? Check out our offerings from Soufrandiere, a biodynamic producer based in the village of Vinzelles in the Mâcon. Located in Southern Burgundy, the wines are classified by their climat or vineyard and bottled accordingly, with all production taking place in neutral oak cask.

Some of the best offerings are sourced from the Les Quarts climat, which features exceptionally old vines over 80 years old and the perfect mix of red clay and limestone soils. While demonstrating the shyness of youth that’s found in current release Burgundy, there’s still a full spectrum of orchard fruit, white flowers, lemon oil and saline minerality. The exceptionally long finish and high acid make this something to cellar or decant prior to serving, with additional notes of grapefruit pith, Pomelo rind and Cara Cara orange emerging with patience.   

Soufrandiere wines in stock now: 

Bret Brothers La Soufrandiere Pouilly-Vinzelles Maconnais 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 12 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “A cuvée of declassified Les Quarts, the 2019 Pouilly-Vinzelles offers up aromas of sweet orchard fruit, meadow blossom and clear honey. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered, with fine concentration and bright acids, it’s charming and expressive.”

Bret Brothers La Soufrandiere Pouilly-Vinzelles Climat Les Quarts Cuvee Millerandee Maconnais 2019 750ML ($99.95) $85 special, 4 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2019 Pouilly-Vinzelles Les Quarts Cuvée Millerandée is even more reserved, opening in the glass with scents of clear honey, orange oil, white flowers and pear. Full-bodied, layered and textural, it’s concentrated and tightly wound, with tangy acids and chalky structuring extract. This will warrant a bit of patience.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 93 points “The 2019 Pouilly-Vinzelles Climat “Les Quarts” Cuvée Millerandée” comes from the upper part of the vineyard on shallow soils, combined with vine age and massal selection that produced millerandé bunches and smaller berries. It has a wonderful, very pure and mineral-driven bouquet with red apple, peach skin and yellow plum scents and soar from the glass. The palate is very well balanced with fine delineation, a superb line of acidity and more nervosité compared to the regular cuvée. Pure class.”
Burghound 91-94 points “Sweet Spot. This too is quite firmly reduced, and the nose reveals only the discreet wood treatment. There is terrific intense to the dense, serious and focused larger-scaled flavors that brim with both minerality and dry extract on the powerful, youthfully austere, bone-dry and hugely long finale. This possesses excellent potential.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Soufrandiere wines arriving June 24th: 

Bret Brothers La Soufrandiere Pouilly-Vinzelles Climat Les Longeays Maconnais 2019 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2019 Pouilly-Vinzelles Les Longeays opens in the glass with notes of pear, almonds, white flowers, mint and citrus zest. Medium to full-bodied and textural but tightly wound, with a sweet core of fruit and lively acids, it has turned out well.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 91 points “The 2019 Pouilly-Vinzelles Climat “Les Longeays”, the most precocious climat of the domaine according to the Brets, comes from the middle of the slope on four-metre deep clay soils. This offers enticing orchard fruit on the nose mixed with Vervane tea, honeysuckle and jasmine scents. The palate is tensile on its opening, full of energy that counterbalances the richness that comes through on the finish. There is just a hint of white chocolate lingering on the aftertaste. Excellent.”

Bret Brothers La Soufrandiere Pouilly-Fuisse Climat au Vignerais Maconnais 2019 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Vinous 93 points “The 2019 Pouilly-Fuissé Climat “Au Vignerais” has the most Zen-like bouquet that demands the most coaxing from the glass, eventually revealing green apple and crushed rock scents. The nose is very well defined. The palate is taut and fresh, quite saline and tensile, building in concentration towards a very harmonious, orange pith and pear-tinged finish. This is a lovely, cerebral Pouilly-Fuissé.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Aromas of pear, citrus zest, toasted almonds and vanilla pod introduce the 2019 Pouilly-Fuissé Au Vignerais, a medium to full-bodied, satiny and ample wine that’s lively and saline. Seamless and elegant, it’s already showing well.”

 

Featured New Arrival: 

Cameron Wines 
 

Cameron is synonymous with the Willamette Valley and her wines, producing some of the best iterations of the Dundee Hills and Ribbon Ridge AVA’s. Transcending varietal, price point and vintage there is something to be enamored by in every bottling in how they express terroir and John Paul’s winemaking mastery. Each bottling represents a different facet of Oregon’s terroir with a thorough line of elegance. The 2021 bottlings of the Giuliano and Ramato exhibit the intense flavors brought on by the low yields and warm growing conditions.   

His winemaking magic isn’t constrained to just Chardonnay and Pinot Noir either, with Cameron winery being one of the few producers in Oregon utilizing white grapes for field blends. Stylistically drawing from Northern Italy, these are among the most refreshing and food friendly wines in the valley. The only drawback is their limited production volumes, given that John Paul rarely sources beyond his estate vineyards.

Cameron Wines in stock now: 

Cameron Winery Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 2020 750ML ($44.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Cameron Winery Giuliano White Oregon 2021 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Vinpol Note: A field blend of Friulano, Auxerrois, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Muscat grapes that takes inspiration from the multidimensional white blends of Northeastern Italy with it’s perfumed aromatics and delightful texture.  
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Cameron Winery Pinot Gris Ramato Dundee Hills 2021 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Vinpol Note: Pinot Gris that spent time on it’s skins, contributing the barest hint of tannin, a dollop of color and a completely different interpretation of the classic Oregon varietal. 
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 

When looking for premium offerings in the world of wine Spain is without a doubt the biggest “Bang for your buck”. With grapevines planted from tip to tail and a beautiful assortment of styles, there are also large amounts of old vines still planted throughout the country. As stewards of these old vines, Bodegas Avancia cultivates their vines just as their ancestors did; eschewing any synthetic inputs whatsoever including irrigation as well! 
    
Based in the Valdeorras, or the Valley of Gold region, their champion grape is the indigenous Godello grape. A rarity in that the varietal is shared by both Portugal and Spain, the grape reaches its apex in the high elevation hills of pure schist and black slate. Sourced from a single vineyard planted in 1939 these are among the oldest vines still utilized for commercial production. The flavors include a plethora of orchard character such as apple and pear blossom against a delightful pear skin, quince, nectarine and summer peach flavor. The judicious use of new French oak brings additional structure against the slatey minerality not unlike well-crafted White Burgundy or Savennieres. 

The Mencia is equally compelling. Primarily the latter varietal there is also being small amounts of Garnacha Tintorera (The same cultivar of Grenache used in Priorat to the south) and indigenous varietals Mouratón (Juan García), Gran Negro, Sousón, Cariñena. As a traditional field blend aged in neutral oak this is a Mencia inspired by iterations of centuries past, while still delivering a clean and refreshing red fruited character. The exceptional terroir is evident throughout, with pervasive aromatics and a refreshing finish evocative of slate. 

Bodegas Avancia Wines in stock now: 

Bodegas Avancia Nobleza Old Vines Godello Valdeorras 2020 750ML ($69.95) $56.50 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Pale gold. Intensely perfumed pear nectar and orange zest qualities on the nose; honeysuckle and mineral notes add lift. Juicy, penetrating and sharply focused on the palate, offering concentrated citrus and orchard fruit and floral flavors along with suggestions of salty minerals and bitter quinine. Deftly melds depth and vivacity and finishes extremely long and briny, with outstanding clarity and repeating florality.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “A new top-of-the-range white, the 2020 Nobleza Godello is a barrel selection from the wine from the Finca Aeiroá, which was planted in 1939 on schist and slate soils above the village of O Barco. They selected 900 liters from three 600-liter barrels, one of them new. It’s textured, voluptuous and ripe at 14% alcohol but with balancing acidity. It’s peppery and spicy and a little marked by the oak, with a dry, slightly astringent finish. It should improve with time in bottle. 1,148 bottles were filled in July 2021.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Bodegas Avancia Mencia Valdeorras 2019 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “Dark plums, blackcurrants, grilled herbs, roasted coffee and smoked meat on the nose. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, velvety tannins. Smoky, rich and concentrated. Very smooth-textured. Drink or hold.”
 

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

 

You’ve heard of Concha Y Toro and their work establishing Chile as a major wine hub but did you know that they have one of the most awarded Chilean wines in their portfolio as well? Don Melchor is their top cuvee from the Puente Alto region, a high elevation growing area at the foot of the Andes Mountains. Sourced from 30 year old vines (Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon) planted in alluvial runoff from the latter mountains, this is a perfect snapshot of Chile’s best terroir. If that wasn’t enough, the 2018 vintage is considered one of the best in recent memory, with no adverse weather and ideal conditions throughout the season. With an élevage entirely in French Oak (75% new) this is a collector’s item built for the long haul.     

Don Melchor in stock now: 

Concha y Toro Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon Puente Alto 2018 ($139.95) $108 special
100 points james suckling “This is amazing. The vibrancy and energy in this wine is stunning. The complexity of aromas are breathtaking with flowers, blackcurrants, raspberries and peaches. Full-bodied, yet ever so refined and polished with impeccable texture and beauty. The length is marvelous. This is a testimony to balance, harmony and transparency in a great red. Drink after 2023.”



Cellar Del Roure: Rarity of Valencia 
 

Founded by Pablo Calatayud in 1995, Cellar Del Roure has made a name for itself by bucking tradition. This is no better illustrated than by Safra, made with the indigenous varietal Mando, using traditional lagar and amphorae during fermentation to preserve the natural structure and earthy flavors. Mando is described as being similar to Pinot Noir or Mencia and is largely extinct even within Valencia. This is largely due to Valencia’s history as breadbasket for Spanish agriculture, producing massive quantities of wine, olive oil and most famously oranges. This led to  massive plantings of grapevines meant for bulk wine production, at the cost of historically premium sites and varietals. 

Celler del Roure ‘Safra’Valencia 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94 Points “The 2019 Safrà was produced with a base of Mandó, but it’s a different Mandó from Parotet, livelier and more fluid. They say it’s a red with the soul of a white. In any case, both wines change in 2019 with the addition of Arcos. They harvest the grapes early and use some 30% stems for the vinification in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts. This 2019 is a blend with 30% Arcos, an almost forgotten grape they are recovering and to which they are paying very much attention. Like many of the other wines, it matured in ancient buried 2,600-liter tinajas in their impressive 17th-century cellar. I’ve always liked the floral and aromatic expression of this wine, which has nice aromas and complexity, developing beautiful notes of sour cherries; and in the palate, it’s more serious than you expect, longer, deeper and very tasty. This is more ethereal than Vermell and less spicy that Parotet. I think it has gained in freshness and complexity with the addition of Arcos, which is part of the blend for the first time in 2019. In fact, this is better than ever! 20,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2020.”
Decanter 93 Points “Mainly Mandó grapes with Arcos (rather than Garnacha Tintorera as in previous blends) – a change that brings greater finesse to this aromatic wine. Bright, mid-weight, juicy, with sour cherries and cranberries and the faintest rasp of tannin. Fermented in stainless steel and matured in buried clay amphorae in the remarkable cellar. Organic. Drinking Window 2021 – 2024. -Sarah Jane Evans MW.”
 

Trending Rose: 

German Excellence 
 

One of the most beloved producers amongst the staff, Stein makes incredible wines from abandoned vineyards in the Mosel river valley. Among these sites, Dr. Stein discovered one of the oldest plantings of Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in the entire valley and currently uses them as the backbone for his Rose program. 

These are fascinating examples of terroir featuring the ethereal body, slatey minerality and exceptionally long finish of a classic Mosel wine re-interpreted through red varietals. If that’s not enough it’s even sparkling! Fermented in tank so as not to alter the flavors with autolysis, it’s almost too drinkable with notes of cherry juice, fresh cranberries, nasturtium, and rose water with a mineral finish. We’re lucky enough to offer both sparkling and still bottlings of this rose, just in time for summertime get-togethers!  

In stock and available now:

Wein-Erbhof Stein Rose Trocken Mosel 2021 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Vom Boden importer note “Our favorite rebel/activist in the Mosel, Ulli Stein is one of the world’s most soulful growers. This is one of the few rosés from the Mosel and has become a cult favorite. Shimmering, dry with rigorous acidity.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Wein-Erbhof Stein Secco Sparkling Rose Mosel 2021 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Vom Boden importer note “Steep slate soils; second fermentation in tank; Pinot Noir with approximately 20% Cabernet and Merlot, élevage all stainless.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

“The National drink of Swabia, Now available in pink”
Known more by its Italian name Schiava, Trollinger is the most planted varietal in the German region called Swabia and nicknamed the areas “National Drink”. Vinified by local celebrity winemaker Jochen Beurer with a biodynamic field blend of other red grapes including Pinot Noir, Zwigelt, and Portugieser; this is the epitome of easy drinking rose. Made from the saignée method with no filtering or sulfur added, the rose walks the line between fleshy and fresh. With a medium body and a plethora of fruits, citrus and herbs that reminds one of maraschino cherry, fresh squeezed orange juice, and basil. The finish is refreshing and incredibly food friendly, to the point where you don’t want to share.

In Stock Now:

Beurer Rose Trocken Wurttemberg 2020 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special, 8 bottles in stock now
A saignée blend of Trollinger, Portugieser, Zweigelt and Spätburgunder in an eye-popping bottle. Certified biodynamic.
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Beurer Rose Trocken Wurttemberg 2021 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Vom Boden importer note “Beurer makes a rosé that drinks like biodynamic Gatorade – this wine zings: it is pure energy. It is fresh like a spring garden around 6am just as the overeager sun pokes its gonzo eye above the horizon, pushing away the wet dew. This rosé is a saignée of Trollinger, Portugieser, Zweigelt and Spätburgunder, all farmed biodynamically and fermented with native yeast.”
 

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Made entirely from one of Germany’s indigenous strains of Pinot Noir, Frühburgunder is known for earlier ripening than other Pinot Noir cultivars. In spite of this, the strain is famed for being even harder to grow than Spätburgunder (The later-ripening cultivars that make up the face of German Pinot Noir). This is due to the lower yields and propensity to predation by a plethora of local fauna ranging from hornets to wild boar as well as demanding near-constant attention in the vineyard to grow successfully.

Closer to Strasbourg than Berlin; the Pfalz is nestled between the Haardt Mountains and the Rhine River in a veritable oasis of forests and hills. Archeological records show that the district was one of the first areas in the entire world to have widespread consumption and production of wine, dating back to 550 B.C.E. . In spite of being one of the largest growing districts the soils are relatively uniform, with sandstone, limestone and loess being the most commonly found, further boosting the organoleptic qualities of the finished wine and leaving a distinctive salinity to wines that hail from this verdant section of Germany.

Muller Ruprecht Blanc De Noir Trocken Rose, Pfalz 2021 750ML ($21.95) $19.90 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Vom Boden importer note “This is an estate KP Keller introduced us to in 2020 and we took a small flyer on the rosé last year, based solely on the extreme cut of the basic Riesling and, well, we were blown away. This is from the limestone Pfalz, where Pinot Noir does quite well. We’ve secured a bit more of this for 2021 and we expect fireworks. If you haven’t heard of Frühburgunder it is an early ripening, delicate and elegant cousin to Pinot Noir. A very soft crushing to not get too much color, with as little skin contact as possible to make it ultra light. Very aromatic, soaring red fruit, lots of citrus, a salty minerality.”
 

Maloof Wines:
Oregon Revolution
 

Oregon is in the midst of a winemaking revolution, with a new generation of talent flooding in from all parts of the world to put down roots in Oregon. Ross and Bee Maloof are certainly part of that generation, with a portfolio of entirely natural, organically produced wines from sites throughout the Willamette and Applegate Valley. Vineyard sources include Temperance Hill, Johan and Steelhead Run in addition to their estate vineyard “No Clos”. These are the epitome of natural winemaking, and truly are a benchmark for the style across the board.

Maloof Wines in stock now:

Ross & Bee Maloof L’Eau Epicee Willamette Valley 2021 750ML (33.95) $29 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Distributor note “Riesling and Gewürztraminer were direct-pressed and fermented separately in neutral oak. A little under a quarter of the Gewürztraminer was fermented in open bins on the skins until dry, then pressed off into barrels. When the Riesling was pressed, some must was put into 5 gallon buckets to freeze. Just after primary fermentation of the Riesling the wine was racked into tank. From there, frozen must held back from crush was thawed out, thrown into tank, stirred up and bottled. No added sulfur and a snazzy updated label to boot!”

Ross & Bee Maloof ‘No Clos Radio’ Pinot Gris Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($31.95) $26 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Vineyard History – Estate vineyard and winery site for Maloof Wines and Fossil & Fawn. Originally planted in the early 70s by Harvey Shafer. Location – Forest Grove, OR (Tualatin Hills AVA) Vineyard stats- 27 acres, 500ft elevation Farming – Own rooted, dry farmed, planted in 1972. Organic farming program since January 2020 (previously sustainable), beginning organic certification process through CCOF in spring 2022. Soil – Jory & Loess, with pisolitic deposits of iron and manganese, that are particular to the newly minted Tualatin Hills AVA. Harvesting – By hand, harvested on September 20th. Winemaking – Pressed, and then fermented and aged in neutral burgundy oak barrels, on the lees with no batonnage. Bottled without fining or filtration. 30ppm total Sulfur.”
 

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Ross & Bee Maloof Johan Vineyard Ribolla Gialla Van Duzer Corridor  2020 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Winery note from the 2018 vintage “I swear to god I was there, I was like “Ribolllaaaaaa”.  First vintage of this after a Friulian grafting project at Johan two years prior, and we couldn’t be more stoked.  Passion fruit, orange peel, and celery.  Direct pressed after a short in-bin maceration, then barrel fermented. So anyways, you guys wanna make-out or what? Drink aside a tomato pie with anchovies. Grapes: 100% Ribolla Gialla. Vineyard(s): Johan Vineyard, Van Duzer Corridor AVA. Alcohol: 12.5%. Winemaking: Foot stomped in picking bins and left macerating for six hours before being pressed. Fermented and aged in neutral oak. Bottled without fining or filtration. 18ppm sulfur. Production: 24 cases.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Ross & Bee Maloof Johan Vineyard ‘Scrambled Sticks’ Van Duzer Corridor 2020 750ML ($37.95) $33 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Winery note “We made six lots of wine from this special plot within Johan for the 2020 vintage, and blended them all together in the summer before bottling. We utilized amphora made by Andrew Beckham for portions of the wine, which makes up about 40% of the final blend. Typically we do extended skin contact in the clay pots, however given the vintage, we opted to make a slightly lighter wine, and reserved the amphora for fermented juice or aged skin contact wine (after pressing). Two of the lots this year that went into the pots were skin contact pinot gris (after we pressed off the skins from a larger ferment in a standard macrobin), and a mixture of Ribolla Gialla and Tocai Friulano (pressed juice fermented and aged directly in the clay). In addition to those lots, we did a ~30 day skin contact in an open fermenter of Pinot gris, another of Ribolla/Tocai, which were both aged in neutral Burgundy barrels. Lastly, we also pressed some Chardonnay and some Pinot Gris, which were both fermented and aged in neutral oak. The final makeup based off of grape variety was… -35% Ribolla Gialla, -30% Pinot Gris, -20% Tocai Friulano, -15% Chardonnay. Bottled without fining or filtration. 30ppm total Sulfur.”

Maloof Where Ya Pjs At Blend 2021 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Distributor note “Get into those soft pants and pour a glass! Is it orange wine? Yes. Is it pink? Also, yes. The Maloofs call it “rosé-ish.” I call it tasty-sunshine-I’m-done-for-the-day wine (it’s a mouthful, but it’s true). [Love ya, Chris!] Winemaking – 80% Skin contact Pinot Gris 15% Direct pressed, barrel fermented riesling 5% Skin contact Schönburger. All of the Pinot Gris lots were fermented in open top fermenters on the skins with daily punch downs until dry (20 days on average). About 20% of each lot of pinot gris was fermented carbonically in sealed containers, for the same length of time as the open top ferments. The two methods from each vineyard were pressed off together, and then moved into neutral french oak. Riesling was fermented and aged in neutral oak barrels. Schonbürger was fermented on the skins until dry (18 days), and then pressed and aged in neutral french oak. All of the lots were blended in the early spring, and bottled unfined and unfiltered in late March. 30ppm total added sulfur. Additional Notes: This is sort of a “rosé” for us. As you’ll see on the back of the bottle it states “rose-ish”. We wanted to have the playfulness and functionality of a rosé without actually using any red fruit. Whether you call it white wine, orange wine, or rose, Where ya PJs at?, cause this thing is a slumber party!”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

We carry a variety of natural wine producers from Oregon including Ovum, Vincent and Kelley Fox!

Collector’s Corner

Priorat’s Crowning Glory:  

Clos Erasmus
 

Priorat or Tarraconensis as it was once called has cultivated winegrapes since the Roman Empire first occupied the area, but it was Clos Erasmus and their collegues who transformed Priorat from sleepy backwater to a global wine powerhouse in the 1980’s and 90’s. Farming biodynamically since their inception Clos Erasmus has maintained very low production throughout the stratospheric rise of the region, and rarely exceeds 140 cases per year from their 25 acres in production. Limited does not begin to describe the scarcity of these wines, with these bottles being the crown jewel of wine lists around the world. Daphne Glorian, the estate’s founder and winemaker describes Priorat as “Burgundy in reverse, same soils and different climate versus different soils and the same climate” 

Clos Erasmus Wines in stock now: 

Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus Priorat DOCa 2018 1.5L ($699.95) $579 special only 1 magnum in stock now
Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate Luis Gutierrez 99 points “A blend of 85% Garnacha and 15% Syrah, 2018 Clos Erasmus comes from a year with good yields and enough rain for good ripeness of the grapes. The vines are now 36 years old on average, and the grapes fermented after a cold soak in 1,000-, 1,500- and 2,000-liter oak vats with indigenous yeasts and a five-week maceration. It matured in new and second use Burgundian 228-liter oak barrels, with around 40% new oak. This is a very elegant and perfumed vintage for Clos Erasmus, a wine that reveals a bright ruby color and a exotic nose that mixes flowers with tons of sweet spices. It is still very young and influenced by the élevage in oak, with something herbal and fresh, reminiscent of pine needles. The palate is textured and velvety, lace and dust, with fine-grained tannins that bring back the memories of the slate rocks; it is pure and detailed and has terrible balance, focus, inner strength, filigree and subdued minerality. I’d wait a little bit for the oak to get integrated before pulling the cork. It has the ingredients, stuffing and balance to develop nicely in bottle for a long time. 3,319 bottles and 100 magnums produced. It was bottled in May 2020.”

Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus ‘Laurel’ Priorat DOCa 2018 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special, 4 magnums in stock now 
Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus ‘Laurel’ Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 96 points “The second wine here and one that is easier to drink, the 2018 Laurel was produced with fruit from the younger vines, a couple of barrels that are declassified from Clos Erasmus and the Cabernet Sauvignon, more or less 70% Garnacha and 15% each Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. It has good ripeness and still a pH of 3.3. It fermented mostly in oak vats and 2,000-liter concrete vats with indigenous yeasts and matured for 18 months in 20,000-liter oak and concrete vats, second use barriques and some clay amphorae. It’s a bright translucent ruby color and has a perfumed and delicate nose with notes of orange peel and flowers; this is the most elegant and ethereal vintage of Laurel as far as I can remember, with red rather than black fruit and a kind of cranberry quality. The palate is medium-bodied, textured and fluid, with subtleness, balance and very fine tannins. The oak is perfectly integrated, and the wine is easy to drink, approachable and very pleasurable right now. It’s a fresh vintage with energy and finesse, quite different from previous vintages. I love it. 22,825 bottles and 515 magnums produced. It was bottled in May 2020.”