Preparation and use of barriques and the choice of oak

a Bordeaux type barrique is 225 litres (95 cm high, 68.5 cm diameter at the centre), a Burgundy type is 228 litres (89 to 90 cm high, 69 to 71.5 cm diameter at the centre).

Four or eight barriques can fit on one pallet (140 x 140 cm), transport to you costs £325.00 for four barriques (110 cm high) or £605.00 for 8 barriques (200 cm high).
plus Customs clearances, export from EU and import to UK, at a cost of £85.00

French oak barriques, rebuilt by a Tonnellere in France, £349 each

This Tonnellerie has a unique system and an excellent technique for giving new life to secondhand barrels so they can continue to be used for many years.

They plane the inside of the barrels in the direction of the grain of the wood to a thickness of 5 millimetres in order to return to virgin wood, which has not been in contact with either the toasting or the wine.
The wood then has similar aromatics to a new barrel while bringing back micro-oxygenation.
Then they heat/toast the inside of the barrel according to the desired intensity before checking its tightness and sanding it on the outside to give it back its original beauty.
The refurbished barrels are suitable for white or red wines. They guarantee no transfer of colour or aroma from the previous wine.

Made by a French cooperage using American oak, £587 each

Made by a French cooperage using French oak, £799 each

larger sizes are available.

Toasting: they offer two types:-

The traditional wood fire method in a brazier with the off-cuts from the production.
This is the most common type of toasting for all coopers. They offer it as light, medium or medium plus.

Alternatively, they have a toasting system that no longer uses a wood fire.
This uses ceramics whose temperature is controlled electronically, in order to toast the inside of the barrel without burning it.
This avoids the smoky notes on tasting and the empyreumatic is lighter.
This toasting method, called "Toast Rayon", is ideal for treating a wine with a maximum of fruitiness and freshness while taking advantage of the 'structuring effect' from the oak.
This toasting is also available from light to medium plus.

Stands/racks for barriques

Silicone-rubber bungs

Racking-pipe: stainless steel, for racking from near the bottom of barriques, 110-degree bend at the top, ending in 1¼" or 32-Mainz male thread, very high quality, £

Sample taker:  glass, £

Prices shown are exclusive of Vat, as at December 2023.

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