The kit also contains 8 x 5 litre bag-in-box kits for making up wine samples using all or part of each sachet of chips.

This is a clever arrangement because the 5 litre silver-metallized polyester wine-bag provided passes about the same oxygen rate over time, per litre, as a new barrique. The presence of that level of oxygen is vital to properly co-maturing the extracted oak phenolics together with the raw wine phenolics. Post MLF, unmatured wine should be used.

Periodically during maturation each wine sample can be evaluated separately and/or blended to give the desired oak character. When maturation has progressed to the desired extent, the final blend of the wines from each bag-in-box will determine the recipe for blending the oak chips for reproducing that wine style in production.

Contact Peter Steer or Geoff Shenfield on +61 3 9428 5842, to discuss the supply of these kits and their best use.