Knox on Wood

[Rebel Rose]

I am pleased to announce that after the holidays, beginning the week of January 17-21st, the wine forum will be hosting a series of guests on topics dear to our pickled hearts.

Many thanks again to KatieLoeb, who lined up our first guest, Stuart Devine of Villa Maria.

Our first 2005 guest will be Mel Knox, barrel broker extraordinaire. We will post a formal bio and announcement in January. Be sure to bookmark the eGullet Society Calendar and check it frequently for updates, as we have nearly a dozen guests on our radar for January through June!

In the meantime, let's get warmed up for Mel's visit. What would you like to know about oak? What do you think you know? In case anyone needs a question to steal or borrow for the Oak thread, here are a few to get you started . . .

Where are the various French oak forests?

How do they differ?

How do the different French coopers and barrels differ from each other?

Why are the insides toasted over a fire?

Why do they call it a bunghole?

Why are barrels round, and not square? Wouldn't square barrels make more sense now that we have forklifts? And would they then be called 'squarrels'?

Does anyone have any suggestions for informative sites on barrels and cooperage?

Beekman Wines & Liquours, New Jersey

[Rebel Rose]

You and a small group of friends decide to buy 120 gallons of bulk wine—Napa Valley 2003 cabernet—from Joseph W. Ciatti Wine Brokers. You plan to spend $4000 on the wine. Your wives think you are nuts but they're happy you all have a hobby. You are going to age, finish, and bottle the wine yourselves.

Now it's time to buy the barrels. Test your oak knowledge below. Some questions may have more than one "correct" answer!

How many barrels will you need?

a) 1

b) 2

c) 4

d) none of the above

How much are you prepared to spend on your barrels?

a) $50

b) $200

c) $700

d) $1500

What kind of oak would be best for your cabernet?

a) French

b) American

c) Baltic

d) some of each

Your group decides to buy some French oak, because it's French, and they put you in charge of purchasing. But when you begin shopping you are confronted by the following choices. Which should you buy for your cabernet?

a) Francois Frere

b) Taransaud

c) Tonnellerie Radoux

d) Seguin Moreau

You choose a cooper, and the representative asks you for more details. Which will you want for a fine cabernet?

a) light toast

b) medium toast

c) heavy toast

d) toasted heads

Before putting your expensive bulk wine in the barrel, you decide to:

a) blow out any wood dust with your wife's hair dryer

b) fill it with water to see if it leaks

c) put a gallon of cheap wine in it and roll it around to season the interior

Your neighbor Fred, who is notoriously cheap, has also decided to make wine, and he wants your advice on oaking it.

However, he plans to keep his wine in borrowed pony kegs. He has ordered some oak powder and wants you, the neighborhood oak guru, to show him how to apply it.

What should he do?

a) dump it in at the beginning of aging and stir

b) dump it in a week before bottling and stir

c) sprinkle in a little a time, and taste

d) make a tea bag and hang it in the wine

Meanwhile, the barrels of wine in your garage have developed tiny leaks. Looking closer, you see that boring beetles are burrowing into your barrels. What should you do?

a) stuff toothpicks in the holes

b) temporarily remove the wine and roll the barrels around with SO2 solution inside

c) heat the garage to drive the bugs out

d) hose the barrels down thoroughly

[Carolyn Tillie]

How many barrels will you need?

Technically, 2 1/4...

How much are you prepared to spend on your barrels?

c

What kind of oak would be best for your cabernet?

c

Your group decides to buy some French oak, because it's French, and they put you in charge of purchasing. But when you begin shopping you are confronted by the following choices. Which should you buy for your cabernet?

I would buy one b) Tarasaud and one d)Seguin Moreau and leave the other 1/4 in glass for topping.

You choose a cooper, and the representative asks you for more details. Which will you want for a fine cabernet?

b

Before putting your expensive bulk wine in the barrel, you decide to:

b

However, he plans to keep his wine in borrowed pony kegs. He has ordered some oak powder and wants you, the neighborhood oak guru, to show him how to apply it. What should he do?

e - commit seppuku because he's a damned philistine.

Meanwhile, the barrels of wine in your garage have developed tiny leaks. Looking closer, you see that boring beetles are burrowing into your barrels. What should you do?

Well, you empty the barrels, fix the holes with spires, and swell the barrels with water to make sure you got all of them...

[Rebel Rose]

C'mon guys and gals, don't let Caroyln intimidate you! She's right, but there's more than one right answer! Well, and maybe a few wrong ones . . .

So, Carolyn, what's your reasoning? Why would you choose medium toast? And how do the flavor profiles of Seguin and Taransaud differ? Why did you select them?