Laurel 2021

Wine description for Laurel 2021 by Clos i Terrasses

Colour & appearance

Deep purple with a violet rim and an opaque core – clear, glossy and dense in the glass.

Nose

Profound and remarkably open for its youth: dark berries, lingonberry and cranberry, alongside dried and stewed black cherries. Behind them lie black tea, a hint of gently smoked duck breast, cocoa beans and a touch of amaretto – a bouquet that continually rearranges itself with air.

Palate

Rich dark-berry fruit, resolutely dry, with firm, still youthful tannins. A lively acidity gives structure and freedom of movement to the powerful body. Be sure to open or decant early – with air, this untamed power settles into harmony.

Finish

Long, dark and spicy; fruit, fine dark chocolate and a cool, mineral aftertaste linger on the palate.

Terroir & origin

Gratallops, in the heart of Priorat: steep terraces on Llicorella slate, surrounded by forest. For Laurel, the vineyard sites of Aubagues and Socarrats supply the grapes – that slate terroir which lends the wine its purist minerality.

Grape varieties & vinification

A cuvée predominantly of Garnacha, complemented by Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Maturation takes place in used wood and amphorae; 14.0% ABV, dry.

Food recommendations

Braised veal shoulder with Brussels sprouts and potato gratin, lamb merguez with mojo rojo and sweet potato chips or – for a vegetarian option – chestnut Spätzle with roasted pumpkin and caramelised onion melt. Dark, roasted aromas are its natural domain.

Special features

Daphne Glorian, alongside René Barbier and Álvaro Palacios, forms the pioneering trio of modern Priorat; the estate has been farmed biodynamically since 2004. Laurel – named after the English translation of her first name – is the more accessible second wine beside the legendary Clos Erasmus: dark fruit, cool elegance, pure slate minerality. A Priorat that truly expresses its origins.