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True
Barrel-Replacing, Oxygen Permeable Wine Maturation Vessels
Flextank's
high-density polyethylene vessels slowly oxygenate wine by natural
air-O2 permeation, in the same way and at
similar rates to barriques/hogsheads. More
than 1,500 units are now in service in all states, as well as
in many overseas countries and a great deal of positive user experience
has been accumulated over the years. Many medals and trophies
have been secured by Flextank users. Most head to head trials
against barrels have shown superior organoleptic results for wine
matured in Flextank vessels
Very
Substantial Economic Advantages!
Flextank
maturation vessels pay for themselves very quickly:
A
Wide Range of Shapes, Volumes & Versatility
FLEXTANK'S
FLAGSHIP PRODUCT
1,000 litre, stackable, transportable
HDPE Oxygenating 'Cube'
REPLACES 4 BARRELS, GIVES SUPERIOR WINE!

Self
Draining Floor & Sump, Front Manhole for Tipping-out
Safely
Stackable to 4-high, Doubles Cellar Floor Space Usage


Flextank Stackable Cubes: Left: Rohan Anderson,
Operations, Right: Peter Steer G.M.
Vessel
Specifications and Prices (add GST)
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Accessories
and Options for Maturation Vessels

Printed
Brochure Download
Barrel
Permeability
& Wine Maturation:
The
most delicate components of wine (i.e. the fruity ethyl esters
and aroma compounds) are largely lost to the atmosphere when
wine is matured in oak barrels. The "wine/wood"
aroma in the cellar arises from that "stripping".
Flextank
maturation vessels prevent these larger flavour and aroma molecules
from leaving the wine. They are "trapped" within.
Users over multiple vintages thus report SUPERIOR matured wine
quality over top quality French barrels.
Tradionalists
are strongly encouraged to trial a Flextank vessel alongside
their best barrels, same wine. Talk to Flextank about best Oak
planks. Surprising differences usually become apparent (in favour
of Flextank) after about 12 months
Given
that wine quality is being proven over time to be SUPERIOR
to the same wine matured in barrels, your purchase decision
should be self-evident.
Safe
Variable Capacity Operation Using "Skins"
Free
surfaces in barrels or tanks allow air-oxygen to dissolve in
wine at rates thousands of times greater than the rate it diffuses
through solids. Even with CO2 in the head-space,
there is usually still enough oxygen present, (CO2
dilutes air rather then displacing it), to cause aldehydic wine
near the surface and to enable aerobic organisms to multiply
on the surface, causing scum and some moulds.
Flextank
maturation vessels are therefore supplied with a floating insert
(dish or "Skin") which is lowered into the wine after
the vessel is filled into the top chamber. This blocks almost
all of the free surface, suppressing scum and bacteria.
For
safe use part-filled, a full body sized "V-C Skin" will
sufficiently reduce the exposed wine surface for the bulk of the
wine to protect itself (with free SO2
in the wine). Most users flush the head space with
CO2 when using V-C Skins. Flextank Skins
have been in use for 4 vintages and work very well.

NOTE:
In maturation vessels of 1,000 l. or smaller, operating part filled
with a V-C "Skin" installed will require more frequent
SO2 adjustment than with either full barrels
or full maturation vessels. The wine will also mature more quickly.
That is because the full surface of the vessel continues to pass
oxygen at a fixed rate, but into a smaller volume of wine. SO2
consumption typically about doubles in that situation.
Typical
Cellaring Arrangements for Flextank Maturation Vessels:
Both
1kl. and 2kl. maturation tanks are FAR more compact to use than
barrels. The image below shows these vessels in use. The left
image shows 1kl. free-standing 'Rockets' in a purpose built room.
On the right, each 2kl. 'Cell' replaces a far more bulky (3 times
the volume), 8 barrique stack. When filled, the initially inwards-curved
Cell frame uprights straighten out under the fill load.
Replacing
barrels with Flextank cubes or cells can potentially increase
the storage capacity of a high-headroom barrel hall by more than
a factor of 3.
Easy
to Rack, Easy to Clean, No Topping, Reduced Waste-water.
The
gross lees level in these vessels is clearly visible, as is
the fill level, making racking a simple task. A racking plate
can be used on the end of a pre-measured length of hose, or
the Flextank submersible racking pump can be simply lowered
into the vessel, pre-set for height off the floor.
HDPE
is very easy to clean, tartar doesn't stick and this material
doesn't stain. There is no porosity or "grain" to
clog. These vessels retain their gas permeability indefinitely.
The material is also sterilizable with boiling water or steam
and/or sterilizing chemicals, allowing persistent bacterial
or yeast infections such as brettanomyces
to be removed completely for safe re-use.
Substantial
water savings are normal. Unlike oak barrels, these vessels
do not require "wetting out". They clean out quickly
and easily with a few litres of mild caustic as a rinse to decolourize
them and a brief fresh water spray to flush solids out.
Unlike
oak barrels, C-P vessels DO NOT allow internal liquid to pass
through to the surface and evaporate away, so they do not require
topping.
Manufactured
to the Highest Standards

Manufacturing
is carried out on a substantial and readily expandable scale
at rotational moulding plants in a number of locations worldwide.
Flextank
suppliers all have ISO 9001 certification, as well as potable
water certification for the mouldings. Flextanks 'Wine-Safe'
raw materials comply with all relevant alcohol-containing food-contact
safety standards in Australia, New Zealand, USA and Europe
International
Patents Pending -
Flextank
invented, developed, tested & introduced the first (worldwide),
poly maturation tanks in 2003.
Patent
applications have been filed in all of the major winegrowing
countries, including USA, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand
& Sth America.
Patents
have issued in Australia (June 2007) & further patents are
pending (March 2008)
Also
manufactured in USA, South Asia and New Zealand
Please
use this e-mail link
to advise of any known copiers or illegal users.
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