2003 Clos Erasmus Priorat

Ruby-red. Sexy aromas of black cherry, raspberry, licorice and flowers. Dense, rich and vinous, combining an almost liqueur-like sweetness of currant and raspberry fruit with terrific underlying structure. An outstanding 2003 Priorat wine with compelling texture and depth of flavor and palate-staining length. For the first time, this wine was vinified in a new open-top Taransaud fermenter. .

The 2003 Clos Erasmus is a candidate for wine of the vintage in Spain. Made from 85% Garnacha and 15% Syrah, the wine is aged for 18 months in new French oak. Deep purple, the wine releases an ethereal nose of smoke, crushed stone, pencil lead, cassis, kirsch, black cherry and wild blueberry. On the palate the wine is liquid minerality, opulent, rich, yet focused and well-delineated. The finish lasts for over one minute. Feb 2007, www.robertparker.com