Collection: Buy oaky wines

Oak barrel aging for wines 

Oaked wines captivate enthusiasts with their distinctive character and charming aromas.Whether this breeding method is used for red wines, whites or rosés, it can indeed enhance the cuvées and make them richer and more complex.

Barrel aging allows the wine to acquire several aromas , which can be more or less intense depending on various factors such as the type of wood used, its origin (American oak or French oak, for example), the age of the barrels, or the degree of toasting of the barrels. Thus, the most common notes found in an oaked wine will be oak, a smoky or toasted aspect but also numerous spices like clove, pepper, vanilla, or even coconut.

Furthermore, since wood is a porous material, the wine contained in a barrel is inevitably in (measured) contact with oxygen.This contribution will generally give the wine a rounder and denser texture, also softening the tannins for red wines and imparting aromas of butter or brioche to white wines aged on their lees.

Given the impact that barrel aging can have, it is very important for a winemaker to carefully measure this contribution so that it brings additional complexity and highlights existing aromas. Otherwise, the oakiness will simply become too dominant, at the risk of unbalancing the wine's aromatic profile... although it is primarily a matter of taste!

Oaked wines

Although no generalization should be made, certain regions and appellations are reputed to more commonly age their wines in barrels than others.

Thus, the region of Bordeaux is, for example, famous for its red wines made from Cabernet-sauvignon, Cabernet-franc and Merlot as well as its whites made from Sauvignon and Sémillon with a woody aromatic profile.

We can also mention Burgundy and its famous grape varieties Chardonnay and Pinot noir, the latter being regularly aged in barrels.

In Spain, the appellations Rioja and Ribera del Duero are also renowned for their oaky red wines made from the Tempranillo grape variety.

Finally, many cuvées from the Rhône Valley, Languedoc-Roussillon, Southwest as well as Provence also undergo this type of aging.

Now that you know everything about the usefulness of wood and its advantages, all you have to do is make your choice from this beautiful selection of oaky wines ! And above all, if you need advice, do not hesitate to contact directly La Cave Éclairée !