M: MAISON
Our house toast – A medium flame and regular water treatment gives a toast penetration of 3-5 mm and a toasted bread colour to the wood. This helps to produce wines of character, body and a supple round, fleshy mouth feel. Aromas of chocolate, coffee and vanilla are common. (Also available in M- and M+)

SR: SPECIAL ROUGE
Frequent water combined with a medium flame ensures a gentle, artisanal toasting, that gives a light brown/hazelnut colouration and a deep soft penetration into the wood of 5-7mm. This long toast reflects the aromatic and structural profile of the barrel – it adds elegance, length, and minerality to the wine, whilst imparting very subtle, fresh aromatics that ensure it is the fruit that dominates.

SB: SPECIAL BLANC
Following a similar path as the toasting regime of the SR, this is our toast specifically destined for white wines. The elegance and length help to accentuate the floral and fruit aromatics of your wine. The understated oak characteristics allow this barrel to integrate well, including shorter maturation periods of 7-9 months. The toast has become our standard bearer for Chardonnays around the world.

GC: GRAND CRU
Regular water treatment combined with an extended firing at higher temperatures creates our most impactful, deepest toast (7-8mm). This coffee coloured toast adds richness and structure to a wine. The barrel supports the wine, building body and length. The Grand cru is our ‘umami’ toast.

CLL: CHAUFFE LIGHT LONG
At the opposite end of the spectrum to the GC, the CLL is delicately toasted over a low flame of oak embers. Its honey coloured profile penetrates 3-5mm, thus requiring a long slow toast. This, our lightest toast, has minimal aromatic impact on the wine but adds a freshness and suppleness, which imparts to the wine brilliance and luminosity. Our experience is that this toast needs at least 12 months to fully integrate into the wine.