Hello
Welcome to what will be the first in a series of informative technical updates and reports directed at assessing ongoing developments in wine maturation technologies.
A complex undertaking which will require an ongoing series of trials and extensive input from the wider industry to bring as much expertise to bear on this important aspect of winemaking and to ensure the outcomes are relevant, un bias and ultimately valued by the industry.
In April 2011 RedOaker and Mastercask commenced trails in conjunction with McWilliams Wines. Focus of this initial trial is to compare base performances of contemporary wine maturation and treatment systems.
Trial Variants include:
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5Kl stainless steel tank with sintered micro ox at comparable 02 rates to other variants
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New French Oak (used historically on this particular parcel of fruit)
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4 + year old Oak Barrel (same cooperage)
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Thin walled gas permeable polyethylene vessel
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RedOaker vessels with variable gas permeable diffusion membranes.
Several RedOaker variations are employed including vessels both with and without 02 membranes applying a range of 02 rates to the same wine and oak adjuncts.
In total, the trial consists of 9 variants which will initially assessed by a select panel at the 6 month interval in October. At the same time samples will be bottled off and all interested parties invited via a subsequent newsletter to contribute their expertise in assessing the trial across a number of regions. Results from all tasting notes will be compiled and submitted back to the participants.
In understanding the various challenges our industry currently faces and the ongoing need to outperform our competitors as an industry, the timing seems logical for us to seek the input and direction from the industry in the comparative evaluation value of these promising approaches to wine maturation/treatment.
We consider a constructive and proactive approach to optimising the application and performance of oak with the support of the entire Australian Oak and Wine industries to be the most effective direction for RedOaker and MasterCask to pursue in meeting the needs of our industry.
We look forward to keeping you regularly updated and certainly hope to see you at one of the upcoming tasting seminars later in the year. Information regarding presentation and tasting dates/venues will appear in the next issue.
Sincerely,
Neal Palmer - RedOaker
Darren Lange - MasterCask
www.redaoker.com.au
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