2015 Laurel

The 2015 Laurel is the second wine here, and it has evolved with time. It's a transparent and bright blend of Garnacha with 20% Syrah and some 5% Cabernet Sauvignon from vines between 11 and 22 years of age. The blend is different each year, as the vines are becoming older and wiser. It shows extremely aromatic and expressive, open and elegant. It really does not show any heat; on the contrary, it feels quite fresh. It's not a muscular wine—it’s very elegant. Part of the wine matured in amphora, and there's no more pigéage (since 2012), only very soft pump overs just to keep the cap wet. The extraction is a lot lower than in earlier years. This is nothing short of spectacular. Some 20,000 bottles were produced. It was bottled in May 2017. At this tender age, Laurel is a lot more approachable than Clos Erasmus from the same year. I want to drink this and lay down the Clos Erasmus.

The 2015 Laurel comes from the younger vines of the estate and is 80% Garnacha, 15% Syrah and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in larger oak vats, concrete tanks, and amphorae, it boasts a deep purple color as well as perfumed notes of resinous herbs, blackberries, liquid violets and pepper. It’s rich, concentrated, and voluptuous, yet pure and elegant on the palate. It’s undoubtedly the finest vintage of this cuvée I’ve tasted, and the good news is that there are close to two thousand cases produced!