Every year at Sandihurst we order a number of new French oak barrels from a variety of cooperages for our Pinot Noir. The amount is usually around 25-35% new oak in each wine (about 40 barrels), depending on the blend. Barrels from any one cooper differ in the forest the wood comes from (all forests are on a strict 160 year rotation), their control over the wood selection process, the grain of the wood, the method of drying the oak, the level and length of toasting and most importantly the style of each cooper in respect putting all these components toegther.
One cooperage we use here at Sandihurst is Claude Gillet. The small Gillet cooperage is in the village of Saint Romain, in Burgundy. They produce around 9000 barrels per year. Gillet barrels are very good for showing sweet pure fruit. They dont dominate the wine and help create a fuller mouth feel while staying elegant and balanced.
Heres a short video showing how Gillet barrels are made.
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