Frequently asked questions

  • What types of oak are used for your used or refurbished barrels ?

    We mainly supply French oak barrels; other types of oak (European – American) and, in limited quantities, acacia are also available.

  • What is a Milesime second-hand barrel ?

    The majority of our barrels come from rental contracts. We therefore have full traceability and a cleaning and maintenance protocol. Checked as it leaves the property, it is checked again as it leaves our stock, if necessary with a new cleaning process. We take advantage of its passage through our workshops to sand it.

  • What sizes of used or refurbished barrels are available ?

    We supply 225l barrels, 300l, 400l and 500l casks, and a limited number of 600l demi-muids. Ask us about larger containers (truncated-cone tanks or foudres).

  • What is a Milesime refurbished barrel ?

    This barrel comes mainly from our rental contracts, with triple traceability: property origin – original cooperage – refurbishment cooperage

    Process: dismantling of bottoms, planing of staves and bottoms, repair of any defects, steam treatment, heating, reassembly of bottoms, scalding, complete sanding and marking

    Expected effects: oxygenation restored, original aromatic compounds (methyl-octalactones and vanillin) mostly recovered, woodiness melted and wines softened

    Our process eliminates the potential danger of pyrolysis of polyphenols resulting in the production of dimethoxy-phenols (“burnt” odour)

    Sanitary control based on a cleaning protocol

    – Remove solids by rinsing, – Steam treatment, rinse again and drain bung down for 12 h – Drying at 5g – Bung hit

    Physical inspection

    – No broken staves or bottom pieces (surface microcracks tolerated for bung staves) – Galvanized hoops correctly tightened (tolerance for oxidized but not rusted hoops) – Chestnut hoops correctly tightened and tied

    Finishing

    External sanding

  • Can I buy used or refurbished barrels without the proposed financing ?

    It is possible to buy our used or refurbished barrels without rental financing

  • What quality controls are carried out on your second-hand barrels ?

    Sanitary control based on a cleaning protocol

    – Remove solids by rinsing, – Steam treatment, rinse again and drain bung down for 12 h – Drying at 5g – Bung hit

    Physical inspection

    – No broken staves or bottom pieces (tolerance for bung staves with surface microcracks) – Galvanized rings correctly tightened (tolerance for oxidized but not rusted rings) – Chestnut hoops correctly tightened and tied

    Finishing

    External sanding