Glossary
Oak ageing
Storing wine in oak vessels. New oak contributes vanilla, toast, clove and coconut; older oak contributes little flavour but still allows the slow oxygen ingress that softens tannin.
In more detail
French oak is generally tighter-grained and gives subtler spice; American oak gives more overt vanilla and coconut.
Barrel size matters: a 225-litre barrique gives far more oak influence per litre than a 5,000-litre cask.