"THE NUGGET"
"BARREL ON A ROPE"
BARREL ALTERNATIVE
These are the only kind of wood inserts
that we have found to be equivalent to aging in an oak barrel.
Of course, oak inserts do not condense nor micro-oxygenate the wine as barrels do.
However ours do supply the oak flavor/aroma equivalent of being in a new barrel.
The secret is the toasting "gradient" found in our oak inserts.
All other chips, cubes, and staves parts on the market are
toasted completely through, resulting in just a one-dimensional,
simplistic toastiness. What you want from a barrel is the
gradient of roasting that provides the sweet caramel, honey, vanilla,
almond, coffee, and chocolate flavors/aromas.
This, plus 30 months naturally seasoned oak,
is what you get from our oak "Nuggets" and "Barrel on a Rope"
Less for longer is always preferred for complete penetration.
Taste and smell regularly until you get the oak influence that you want.
French Oak "Barrel on a Rope" - $39.95
These are 6 (about 12"
long) new stave pieces, linked together with food-grade nylon zip ties,
for easy insertion
into and removal from a winery size, 60 gal.,
barrel.
One end has a
stainless steel eye hook that hangs from the barrel bung.
They are custom
toasted, using real oak fire, to a "Rhone" style that is a balance of
toast, vanillin,
and spice flavors and aromas.
You get a
conservative, not overwhelming, amount of extraction in 2-3 months.
That's equivalent
to ~ 3 months in a new, tight grain, 60 gallon French Oak Barrel.
Use in non-new to neutral barrels to add just the right touch of "new oak".