L’equilibrista Blanc 2021

L'Equilibrista Blanc comes from Finca Ca N'Estruc, a family winery near the Montserrat massif in D.O. Catalunya with roots going back to 1548. It is made entirely from Xarel·lo, the Penedès region's most important white grape, grown on soils sheltered by the mountain and cooled by its microclimate. Xarel·lo is prized for its structure, its firm acidity and its capacity to age, which is what allows this wine to spend time in barrel without losing shape. The wine is fermented in oak and aged for six months in oak barrels, so it takes on colour, texture and flavour from the wood while the lees left in contact after fermentation add a creamy weight through the slow release of mannoproteins. The colour is golden and the nose leads with toasted wood and breadcrumb over a hint of black pepper, a savoury profile rather than a fruity one. On the palate it is broad and rounded, with baked pear, hazelnut and a waxy, beeswax note carried by the acidity that Xarel·lo keeps even in warm vintages. The finish is dry and long. Serve at 11 to 13 degrees in a large glass. It suits roast poultry, pork and hard cheeses.