2022 Laurel

The 2022 Laurel from Gratallops, Priorat, is a blend of 75% Garnatxa and 25% Syrah. It was fermented in wooden vats and concrete, then aged 16 months in barrel. Balsamic and caramel notes open, with oak in the background, followed by cedar, plum and local herbs. Broad, taut and lightly juicy, it shows richness of palate, a talc-like texture and a compact finish where licorella is perceptible. Elegance in winemaking defines this wine in a complex, difficult year, the opposite of 2021.

The 2022 Laurel has the grapes from the younger vines but still not the ones from Manyetes that will contribute to this wine in 2023 for the first time. This is quite aromatic, young tender and peachy, attractive. She finds this to be a classical vintage, balanced and ripe without excess, and the tannins are polished and elegant. In 2022, they used a little less Cabernet, so the wine is mostly Garnacha, with almost 20% Syrah and perhaps 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. It matured mostly in concrete, oak vats and some 30 barrels, but some 20% of the volume matured in amphorae. She's not crazy about amphorae; she finds that they close the wines. It's medium-bodied, has a fine texture and feels elegant and light with a lot of finesse. She doesn't want too long macerations with the grapes from the younger vines, but it has clout. It comes in at 15% alcohol, has very fine tannins and comes through as balanced and civilized, quite approachable already with mellow acidity. She's very careful that the tannins don't have too much astringency. 23,000 bottles were filled in May 2024. Tasted 10 months after bottling, the wine is very drinkable. This is a young wine that is ever changing, with the new vines, and it will change even more in the coming years.