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Wine Description
The Story
This wine takes its name from the walls that protected the monastery at Poblet during the Mercenary Wars. The unmistakeable identity of Grans Muralles is thanks to the stony, slate ground (Licorella) of the region, and the grape varieties believed to be extinct, such as Garró an Querol, using modern viticultural techniques. Together with Cariñena and Monastrell they create the unique spirit of this wine..
Origin: The unmistakeable identity of Grans Muralles is thanks to the stony, slate ground (Licorella) of the region, and the grape varieties used to make it. One century after the phyloxera plague the Torres family have begun to recuperate autoctonous grape varieties believed to be extinct, such as Garró and Samsó, using modern viticultural techniques. Together with red Garnacha, Mazuelo and Monastrell they create the unique spirit of this wine.
Appellation: DO Conca de Barberà
Grape varieties: Garnacha, Cariñena, Querol, Monastrell and Garró
Estate of origin: Grans Muralles
Location: Poblet, Conca de Barberà
Year vines planted: 1990-1996
Surface area: 32 ha (79 acres)
Elevation: 445 - 470 m
Slope: 0-10%
Orientation: North & North-East & North-West
Yield: 4.000 - 5.000 Kg/ha
Soil: Deep rocky soils with layered deposits of Paleozoic slate and granite gravel beds. Swift drainage and low water holding capacity. The mineral-rich soils and limited water supply contribute to the production of wines that display great typicity, concentration and exceptional quality.
Annual average rainfall (historical): 637 mm
Annual total rainfall (current vintage): 506 mm
Annual average temperature (historical): 14.2ºC
Annual average temperature (current vintage): 14.4ºC
Winemaking: Number of days of skin contact: 12-18 days / Type of fermentation: In small stainless steel tanks at a temperature of 24ºC with slow extraction / Number of days of fermentation: 12 days / Fermentation temperature: 24°C
Ageing: Aged in new French oak (Tronçais thin grain) for 18 months
Vintage 2017
SPAIN 2017 Vintage /Extreme weather was seen across the wine world in 2017 and Spain was no exception. For most Spanish regions there were one or more climatic challenges to contend with including spring frost, drought, untypically high summer temperatures and occasional hail storms. Then, mercifully, the going got easier as more typical weather arrived for the August and September ripening period and generally very favourable harvest conditions.
Frost hit areas where it rarely does in Spain – many areas of Galicia were affected with only Rías Baixas getting off lightly. Castilla y León, with its wide stretch of regions from Ribera del Duero to Bierzo, often sees some frost but this year it hit with a vengeance. Jerez was one of the few areas to escape and the central area of Castilla-La Mancha only suffered frost damage in isolated areas.
The long drought and a very hot early summer period tested some varieties, especially non- indigenous ones. Older vines and bush vines with deep roots coped better with the extreme weather and soils with good water retention were a bonus.
The harvest was generally low-yielding and early, having been brought forward by an early bud break. But the length of the harvest varied and thanks to fine weather growers could wait for the best time to pick waiting for each area to reach maturity. In some cases where there was a secondary growth on vines after the frost, the result was a later growing cycle and vines reaching maturity at more typical dates.
Grape quality was often reported to be high with healthy bunches of smaller berries showing intense flavours and excellent ripeness. As always, those offering the best wines from this vintage are likely to have selected their grapes carefully.
While yields are down in 2017, this harvest comes after more generous ones for many Spanish regions in recent years and this should safeguard against supply shortages.