Grans Muralles 2015

I love the nose of the 2015 Grans Muralles, a complex blend of 44% Cariñena, 29% Garnacha, 19% Querol, 5% Monastrell and 3% Garró that matured in new French barriques for 18 months. It has the Torres signature and is polished and sleek, balanced and approachable, but it has more character than the majority of their reds (save for the new top of the range from Priorat). This is a powerful Mediterranean blend with freshness and personality. I wonder what would happen if this matured in larger oak vats, which was the tradition in the Mediterranean before we received the Bordeaux barrels... 7,440 bottles and some larger formats.

There’s a ripe, bold and juicy feel to this wine that has a rich and fleshy feel with plenty of volume on the palate. Very approachable. Drink or hold.
 

Named after the walls surrounding Poblet Monastery, this wine is testament to the work done by Torres to resurrect and protect native Spanish grape varieties. Along with Cariñena, Garnacha and Monastrell, the blend includes the less familiar Querol and Garró. Parcels are picked, vinified and aged separately according to the character of each grape, before the final blending. The result is an aromatically appealing wine, with fruity notes of mulberry, blackberry, cherry, plus warmer stewed plum, herbs and spice. The approachable, fruit-driven palate has a wild Mediterranean herbal character, with a smooth black-fruit attack, light spice and well integrated tannins. Distinctive and original.