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WINEMAKING creased interest in barrel fermentation. Chappell said, "It's more work, but I keep hearing about it more and more. There's a marriage between wood and wine. If it starts hap- pening in the initial stage of fermentation, the people who are doing it say it's more seamless." Represented by Bouchard Cooperages, Vicard Tonnelleries of Cognac, France, has introduced its Vinificateur barrel— engineered with a stainless steel bilge hatch, racking valve and tasting valve. The puncheons come with a four-wheeled galva- nized steel rack for smooth barrel rotation. To save backs in the cellar, the rack can be moved via forklift. Vinificateur puncheons are available in 300L, 400L, 500L and 600L sizes, all made in French oak, and are customized by grain tightness and desired toasting profile. Barrel 21 seeks to capture subtle flavor differences and profiles from appellated American oak. Without having the skills of a trained cooper, who would have to be called in twice (before fermentation and after), T.W. Bo- swell's red wine fermentation option simplifies the process with three adjustable hoops and a removable head. The body of the barrel is constructed so that it won't collapse while adjustments are made to the hoops with a socket wrench and a hex bit. Two screws are embedded in the barrelhead to attach a custom-made handle so the head can be lifted out easily. Gary Chappell, international manager at Napa-based Bouchard Cooperages, noted that he also has seen an in- Grain on the brain Part of the Cork Supply Group, Benicia, Calif., Tonnellerie Ô re- leased its Crème DLC, extra fine tight grain Burgundy barrel. Ac- cording to Jason Butler, master cooper at Tonnellerie Ô, it goes against the grain both in style and science. "It integrates quickly and elegantly, opposite to what you might expect with tight grain oak." Toasted in a manner similar to a Bordeaux barrel, Crème DLC is composed of a handpicked blend of extra fine grain Vosges- and Bertranges-sourced oak. "It's never going to be a product we can make unlimited amounts of—it's truly allocated. We are only making 300 for the 2011 vintage." Butler said. Barrel 21, also part of the Cork Supply Group brand, has released two styles of American white oak barrels—Northern Blend (tight grain) and Appalachian Blend (medium grain). The Ozarks Blend (medium to wide grain) is due out in 2012. ÉLEVÉ EN FRANCE COOPERED IN CALIFORNIA Visit www.tonnellerieo.com to learn about our French oak barrels and schedule a private tour of our new California cooperage. 531 Stone Road, Benicia, CA 94510 | 707.752.6350 office | 707.746.7471 fax | info@tonnellerieo.com Wines & Vines OCTOBeR 2011 37