Elio Sandri Barbera d'Alba Superiore, 2012

On tasting my first bottle of this wine on September 10, 2018, I said: "This wine has good balance even though it feels a bit aggressive on the palate right now. Five years from now? I can't wait." Actually, eight years later, it has developed into the robust but complex wine that I anticipated.

The color has lightened, much more amber now. Best at cellar temperature; I put it in the refrigerator for 20 minutes, to bring back some of the tannins that had melted a bit over eight years. Once aggressive, it is now mellow with bright fruit smells and flavors. Red cherry, raspberry, black licorice. Ripe fruit on friendly mid-palate tannins. Signature Barbera acidity keeps it fresh and lively on medium-long finish. Unfortunately, this is my last bottle.