American oak from Missouri, on the other hand, is aggressive and less absorbent. French oak barrels cost more than $1,000 and certainly raise the prices of wine. Yet they are necessary to create a ...
He has a decidedly unusual approach to making his red wines, eschewing the use of pumps and filters in the belief that they can oxidise the wine. However, all are matured in oak (mainly American) for ...
Barrel blending allows winemakers to assess individual wines after being influenced by wood. This allows adding complexity, such as the spiciness of French oak and the vanilla of American oak.