Barrel Aging: maturation in wood
The standard
A stated barrel maturation names the duration, the proportion of new wood and the barrel size. These figures determine how strongly the wood acts on the wine.
Criteria
- It names the duration of maturation in barrel
- It names the proportion of new barrels
- It names the size of the barrels used
- It describes a method, not a rating
Distinction
Barrel aging ≠ oak aroma: one is the method, the other a possible consequence. Barrel aging ≠ bottle aging: a stated barrel maturation ends with filling, the maturation in bottle begins afterwards.