For hundreds of years, traditional barrels have been conceived and used in the same way, as a maturation container with 3 single purposes: Hold liquid, allow ingress of oxygen and pass on tannins and aromas to the wine. All three purposes being achieved by using a single resource, centuries-old oak trees.
When maturing in traditional barrels, your precious wine is in contact with only 3 to 5 millimetres of oak which is less than 20% of the total barrel oak amount. The 80% remaining oak is simply never used for its oenological properties and with the only aim to serve as a good-looking oxygen-permeable container.
While this is how it has traditionally worked, at Flexcube, we believe we can do better and manage our precious secular oak in a more efficient and sustainable manner. We believe using prized oak trees as a simple container must come to an end and only use what is needed for its oenological gift.
We replaced the oak container by a highly innovative oxygen permeable polymer shell (which is more consistent than any traditional barrel in terms of oxygenation) and focused the use of oak for what it is required: its oenological properties. We designed BarriQ barrel oak to be immersed in the wine and not the other way around.
The oak is still the same, genuine barrel oak, simply not bent and hooped. By introducing this evolution in shape, the contact surface has increased and the wine now embraces every single side of the oak stave, including the ends. The wine can now flow through the tubes along the full length of the stave and be perfectly nourished by the aromas of the oak, resulting in an optimal and responsible oak maturation.
With Tronçais, one of our most exquisite range is the single forest origin BarriQ oak from the renowned forests of Jupilles. The highly prized secular oak has very tight grain. These exclusive origins offer distinctively elegant tannins and are perfectly suited for complex reds and sweet and mineral wines. This barrel-blend is used worldwide to produce icon wines.
One of our most exquisite range is the single forest origin BarriQ oak from the renowned forests of Tronçais. The highly prized secular oak has very tight grain. These exclusive origins offer distinctively elegant tannins and are perfectly suited for complex reds and sweet and mineral wines. This barrel-blend is used worldwide to produce icon wines.
A symbol of the Franco‐American friendship, our Lafayette barrel-blend literally offers the best of both worlds: a combination of American white oak aromatic punch, and French oak structure and elegant sophistication.
Same as above but a bit less structuring, with also less coconut, and a slightly higher vanilla (sweetening effect), spice, warm smoke, and roasted almonds and coffee characters.
This a very Classic Bordeaux or Burgundy barrel combination of 3⁄4 toasted shell wood with a majority of Medium toast, to provide a lot of complexity and sweetness (vanilla, fresh bread, toast and chocolate), some Medium Plus toast for spice, roast and moka and a touch of High toast for empyreumatic notes (black pepper, coffee, toffee and hot smoke), completed with 1⁄4 of untoasted headpieces that provide minerality, structure, and freshness. A tremendous barrel-blend for most ripe, sound, and concentrated wines.
Another very Classic Bordeaux or Burgundy barrel barrel-blend. The 3⁄4 of shell wood is toasted to a slightly lower intensity with more perceived sweetness and spice but less empyreumatic notes (black pepper, coffee, toffee and hot smoke). The 1⁄4 of headpieces are toasted to a Medium Plus intensity to reduce the impact of the lactones and add a touch of extra roast. This results in a barrel-blend that is less structuring, with less coconut, but with a sweetening effect that is possibly better suited where the finesse of the fruit needs to be preserved and enhanced.
Our American quercus alba comes from the Midwest and the Appalachians. Our white oak barrel-blend combines a reasonable dose of lactones from untoasted wood pieces, with the sweet and spicy aromatics of a Medium and Medium Plus toast with a touch of smokiness to refresh it all. With its low tannic profile, this barrel-blend is ideal to bring an aromatic complement to an already well-structured wine.
Our Russian oak from the Caucasus mountain range has moderate aromatic properties but a very distinct sharp and fresh tannic profile. It is a perfect match with cool‐climate mineral or zesty whites to preserve their tension and flint‐stone notes. It is also a very interesting barrel-blend for hot climate fruit, with surprisingly refreshing properties on overripe or jammy reds.
Would you like to know more about our fantastic products? Do you have any maintenance- or service related queries? Would you like to schedule a meeting with us? Contact us today!
+36 (30) 298–2270; +36 (30) 248–2130
22 Siklósi street, Pécs H-7622, Hungary
info@cellarius.hu
