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All staves from the same provenance are checked for quality, (size of the grain; visual aspect), and are then sorted into appropriate
bins for seasoning.
They are seasoned for a minimum of 2 winters to ensure the leeching of harsh tannins, and a drop in humidity within the wood.
The staves reach between 14-17% humidity before machining.
All staves are seasoned at NT Bois in the southern Champagne region. The Tonnellerie de Mercurey only sources from NT Bois.
This is a unique relationship that ensures:
- Consistency of our wood (in terms of grain profile and seasoning)
- Full traceability
- Consistency of supply
The blending of staves from different forests is our key philosophy. Years of experience has led us to conclude that this is the only way
to guarantee a consistent wood quality including:
- Colour of the staves
- Aromatic profile
- Size of the grain
In each barrel of 28-32 staves the grain profile remains the same.
This philosophy resembles that of the Champagne ‘assemblage’ - blending the base wines to make a consistent and recognizable house
style of wine.
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