by tonyhibbett » Thu Nov 02, 2017 10:47
Now the first batch is completing fermentation in the cask, it's time to start the second batch and I have ordered a new 20 litre cask for it. In terms of imparting flavour, a cask is said to have a life of 3 years. A standard wine barrel holds 60 gallons and costs about £300, holding about 300 bottles. If it does 3 batches, the cost per bottle is 33p. The cask I ordered costs £96 (including cork bung, stand, wooden tap and delivery) holds 5 gallons and in practise you get about 25 bottles. 3 batches over 3 years is 75, so about £1.30 per bottle, in this case doubling the cost of the wine.
The first cask (10 gallon) I bought was obviously very old, £10 at a boot fair. It needed a new hoop, tap, bung and stand and leaked badly. When fixed, I filled it with chardonnay and left it for a year. What came out was pretty much the same as what went in, perhaps slightly darker. However, the wine re-conditioned the cask so when I refilled it with pinot noir, I got a better result, although not outstanding. This further conditioned the cask and the next batch of pinot noir was really good.
When I bought a new cask (5 litre) the first batch (a 'sort of' port) had too strong a flavour from the wood, which spoiled the taste. Subsequent batches were much better.
The size of the cask makes a significant difference to the maturation time of the wine. Each doubling of size reduces the surface contact area in proportion to the wine by about 20%. This reduces the rate of maturation and loss of volume through evaporation of water by the same amount.
To offset the strong flavour of a new cask, merlot is sometimes matured in both new and 2 year old casks and then blended before bottling, which is what I intend to do.
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