Montalbera 2012 L’Equilibrio (Barbera d’Asti)

Country: Italy / L’Equilibrio
Variety: Barbera Piedmont
Winery: Montalbera / Barbera d’Asti

This opens with aromas of new oak, burned rubber, raisin and vanilla. The one-dimensional palate offers candied date, fig, mocha and licorice alongside bracing, grainy tannins that leave a mouth-puckering finish. It lacks the fruit richness needed to stand up to the oak spices and astringent tannins.