{"title":"Clos Erasmus","description":"\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"You can’t describe Clos Erasmus in any other way than as a luxury wine, yet a close look at the aromatic and flavour detail of this blend of 70% Grenache with 30% Syrah... shows just what a Priorat thoroughbred it is.\"\u003c\/em\u003e — Decanter Magazine\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClos i Terrasses\u003c\/strong\u003e, colloquially known as \u003cstrong\u003eClos Erasmus\u003c\/strong\u003e, hails from Spain's rugged \u003cstrong\u003ePriorat\u003c\/strong\u003e, helping to bring the region to universal acclaim. The estate was founded by Swiss-French winemaker \u003cstrong\u003eDaphne Glorian with the help of Priorat revolutionaries Alvaro Palacios, René Barbier, Carles Pastrana, and Josep Lluís Pérez.\u003c\/strong\u003e Its wines are beautifully perfumed and richly structured, becoming one of the world's most sought-after \u003cstrong\u003eGrenache-Syrah\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eblends\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eClos Erasmus: \"Garagiste\" Origins\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClos Erasmus was \u003cstrong\u003eestablished in 1988 by Daphne Glorian\u003c\/strong\u003e after the young winemaker purchased 17 hectares of land in the then-unknown Priorat. Glorian developed a close friendship with \u003cstrong\u003eAlvaro Palacios and René Barbier\u003c\/strong\u003e of Clos Mogador, who each urged Glorian to develop a wine estate. The inaugural 1989 vintage was produced in Barbier's cellars and was a representation of the five acclaimed Priorat wineries: \u003cstrong\u003eClos Mogador, Clos Dofi, Clos Martinet, Clos de l'Obac, and Clos Erasmus.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSoon enough, Clos Erasmus gained enough attention that all cases were purchased by Eric Solomon, the owner of American wine importer European Cellars. By the end of the 90s, Solomon and Glorian married, taking over the entire winemaking process from Palacios and Barbier, and eventually hiring the \u003cstrong\u003erenowned oenologist, Ester Nin\u003c\/strong\u003e. Shortly after joining, Clos Erasmus became one of the first Spanish wines to receive a 100-point score from \u003cstrong\u003eRobert Parker's The Wine Advocate\u003c\/strong\u003e, with critic Jay S. Miller describing the 2004 vintage, \"Think of your wildest fantasy coming true and you may be able to conjure up the pleasure this wine delivers.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eToday, the estate produces nearly 3,000 bottles of Clos Erasmus and 1,500 bottles of the standout second label, Clos Erasmus Laurel. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eDaphne Glorian: Renowned Spanish Winemaking\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDaphne Glorian\u003c\/strong\u003e is the founder and head winemaker of Clos Erasmus, opening the estate after a trip to Priorat in 1988. Glorian held no formal winemaking experience and was studying to become a lawyer at the University of Paris yet took a position as the Office Manager for\u003cstrong\u003e Kit Stevens MW\u003c\/strong\u003e. What started as a job to support her studies became a passion; Daphne Glorian soon began helping Stevens in selecting wines for his Burgundy clientele, falling in love with the region's elegant Pinot Noirs. Here, Glorian met \u003cstrong\u003eAlvaro Palacios, René Barbier, Carles Pastrana, and Josep Lluis.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA short trip to Priorat then convinced Glorian to use her life savings to purchase the small Escales vineyard in the village of \u003cstrong\u003eGratallops\u003c\/strong\u003e. The land proved exceptional for old Grenache vines, and after enough trial-and-error, Daphne Glorian masterfully navigated the terroir to become one of Spain's most talented winemakers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eClos Erasmus Priorat: Terroir and Vineyard\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClos Erasmus contains nearly 17 hectares of land in Spain's Priorat region, holding seven vineyards across the territory. Its vineyards include: \u003cstrong\u003eEscales, Socarrats, Aubagues, Solanes, Guinarderes, Les Manyetes, and Les Vaques. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEscales was the first vineyard acquisition\u003c\/strong\u003e by Daphne Glorian, a 1.7-hectare site that stretched along a steep slope of 17 terraces. The vineyard was \u003cstrong\u003eoriginally planted with Grenache but now contains Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.\u003c\/strong\u003e Only 6-9 hectoliters per hectare are produced, adding a delicately perfumed character to the final blend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSocarrats is the largest of Clos Erasmus' vineyards\u003c\/strong\u003e and is a warmer site that is mostly planted with Grenache, with few Syrah vines on the site. The \u003cstrong\u003eeldest vines are reserved for Clos Erasmus\u003c\/strong\u003e, contributing a darker fruit character to the final blend and backbone of the tannins.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAubagues is a small 2.7-hectare vineyard\u003c\/strong\u003e that provides a unique richness and texture to Clos Erasmus. Fruit from this site is\u003cstrong\u003e fermented separately in native yeasts\u003c\/strong\u003e, a distinctive process in the Clos Erasmus vinification process. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eClos i Terrasses: Wine Portfolio\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClos i Terrasses produces two main labels in its portfolio, Clos Erasmus and Clos Erasmus Laurel. Both wines are grown from the same vineyards, with Laurel produced with lots that do not make the flagship wine. Each blend has been heralded as Spanish wine excellence, with many critics believing Clos Erasmus Laurel is strong enough to contend with rivalling flagship wines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eClos Erasmus\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClos Erasmus is blend of Grenache and Syrah\u003c\/strong\u003e, with the former comprising ~70% of the final blend. The label was named after the \u003cstrong\u003eDutch Renaissance theologian, Desiderius Erasmus\u003c\/strong\u003e, who was a big influence on Daphne Glorian. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\"There are some people who live in a dream world, and there are some who face reality; and then there are those who turn one into the other\"\u003c\/em\u003e — Desiderius Erasmus\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClos Erasmus has been described as a delicate, floral blend with great purity, complexity, and finesse. Daphne has compared the \u003cstrong\u003eGrenache as \"the Pinot Noir of the South,\"\u003c\/strong\u003e and has stated that the Syrah adds spice and complexity to the final cuvée.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTop vintages of Clos Erasmus include 2004, 2005, 2013, and 2020\u003c\/strong\u003e, all of which have received 100-point scores from The Wine Advocate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eClos Erasmus Laurel\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClos Erasmus Laurel\u003c\/strong\u003e is crafted from fruit not used in the final blend of the flagship Clos Erasmus, alongside \u003cstrong\u003eyounger fruit from the same vineyards.\u003c\/strong\u003e Furthermore, the blend sees Cabernet Sauvignon added to the mix, with a final composition averaging\u003cstrong\u003e 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe wine is aged in large oak vats, concrete tanks, and clay amphorae depending on the vineyard allocation. Once aged, Clos Erasmus Laurel displays \u003cstrong\u003eethereal and aromatic complexity, a light ruby color, and a red and black fruit character. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSecure Your Bottle of Clos Erasmus Wine\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClos Erasmus has grown to become one of Spain's greatest wines of the 21st century, perfect for Grenache lovers and Bordeaux drinkers looking to expand their palates. Each bottle in our stock is competitively priced and ready to ship upon purchase. Browse through our selection of in-stock Clos Erasmus wines and secure your bottle today. \u003c\/p\u003e","products":[],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0319\/8592\/6203\/collections\/Clos_Erasmus.jpg?v=1776713665","url":"https:\/\/grandcruliquidassets.com\/collections\/clos-erasmus.oembed","provider":"Grand Cru Liquid Assets","version":"1.0","type":"link"}