2001 Grans Murralles, Torres, Conca de Barberà, Spain (£54.95, Handford Wines tel. 020 7589 6113).
It is a crying shame that, after extensive research, only one merchant in the UK appears to sell this monumental wine. So, with this in mind, please give Greg Sherwood or James Handford (a brace of Masters of Wine, no less) a call and a pat on the back for having such good taste. Grans Murralles (the great walls) is a magnificent creation from the equally magnificent Torres portfolio. Made from ancient grape varieties, Monastrell, Garnacha Tinto, Garró, Samsó and Cariñena and coming from a positively breathtaking, walled, single vineyard, depicted on the label, the density and splendour of this mighty red is a wonder to behold. Handford has some stock of the epic 2001 and our featured 2004 (which is a heroic wine, too) will follow on soon. This is one of the mightiest and most collectable Spanish reds around and yet the price still seems eminently affordable by comparison to top end Bordeaux and Burgundies. If you have never been bowled over by a Spanish red before then this wine will change your life and realign your wine knowledge forever.
