L’Equilibrista 2017
A natural balance between freshness, elegance and origins
From the sunny hillsides of Montserrat (Barcelona), where the Mediterranean climate is milder, comes L’Equilibrista 2017, a red that embodies the heart and soul of the terroir. Made by the family-run winery Ca N’Estruc in the D.O. Catalunya, this wine is the result of organic, respectful grape-growing practices that combine tradition, sensitivity and precision.
Consumption features
Serving temperature
General features
Type of wine
Region
Grape variety
30% Syrah, 15% Cariñena, 55% Garnacha tinta
Type of barrel
225- and 500- litre French Allier barrels and American oak barrels for the Cariñena
Type of bottle
Burgundy
Barrel aging time
14 months
Capacity (cl)
75
Alcohol content (% vol.)
14
General Information
The alluvial soils of this area of Catalonia bring out all the character of the Garnacha, Syrah and Cariñena varieties, which grow at an altitude of between 165 and 300 metres. The vines, between 18 and 40 years old, are harvested by hand when the grapes are at their ripest.
At the winery, the grapes are carefully sorted and partially destemmed by hand. Fermentation takes place with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperatures of between 21 and 28 °C, with daily pumping over to encourage gentle extraction. After racking, L'Equilibrista 2017 underwent spontaneous malolactic fermentation. It was aged for 14 months in 225- and 500-litre French Allier and American oak barrels from different cooperages. The result is a very fresh wine with body and fullness which glides over the palate and leaves a lasting and enticing impression.
Ca N'Estruc, founded in 1574 in Esparreguera (Barcelona), is one of the historical pillars of the D.O. Catalunya. Today, with Francisco Martí and his daughter Anna at the helm, the winery combines the family legacy with a contemporary approach, committed to biodynamic practices and a limited, careful output.
With a production of only 39,200 bottles, L'Equilibrista 2017 is a wine that is not only savoured but also contemplated, listened to and remembered.
The winery
Winery
Ca N´Estruc is a family winery located in a unique setting, on the very slopes of the Montserrat mountain, in the municipality of Esparreguera (Barcelona). The winery boasts one of the oldest estates in the area (dating back to 1574), where 22 hectares of vineyards are cultivated, producing an extensive range of young and aged wines.
It is worth noting that Ca N´Estruc is the first winery registered under the D.O. Catalunya (created in 1999). Ca N´Estruc, the ‘House of the Estruch’, is a house tied to the family surname. Francisco Martí Estruch was its founder and is the grandfather of the current owner, Francisco Martí Badia.
The estate's vineyard is situated at an altitude of 165 meters above sea level. The land enjoys a unique microclimate, protected from northern winds thanks to the renowned Montserrat mountain. The vines are oriented from north to south to optimize sunlight exposure. The different plots surround the family farmhouse and the winery. The younger vineyards are trellised to promote ventilation, while the older vineyards, averaging 40 years, are pruned in a goblet shape. Additionally, the Ca N´Estruc winery acquires grapes from old vineyards of local growers, obtaining the finest grapes that feature in their premium wines.
To produce the wines of Ca N´Estruc, the winery cultivates native grape varieties such as the white xarel·lo, macabeo, garnacha blanca, or muscat, and the red garnacha and cariñena. Furthermore, it includes a wide selection of international varietals like chardonnay, syrah, tannat, or petit verdot, among others.
Since 2012, the Catalan winery has practiced organic viticulture across all its vineyards, and in 2019, they introduced biodynamic methods. Regarding the winemaking process, Ca N´Estruc vinifies separately using native yeasts. The musts ferment spontaneously at controlled temperatures, aiming to showcase the individual expression of each terroir. The aging of the various wines is carried out in French oak barrels.
The result is wines with character and personality, modern in style and easy