No I don't have any idea you are right about that. But the Op asked a question if he should buy a new barrel and that was your answer. The fact is the best wines and the most expensive wines are put in NEW OAK or at least one year old oak. With the exception of Pinot Noir where you might like less extraction most winemakers are not looking forward to having barrels go neutral after spending a lot of money on new oak. So yes I think it is funny that you can't wait for them to go neutral. oak Spirals and oak additives while useful are not a replacement of oak extraction in a barrel that can provide that on its own. Besides extraction there are many issues you can face buying a used barrel which you seem to over look in telling the Op besides your distaste for oak. Buying a used barrel is a very risky thing to do. I would not do it. I would not risk my wine in one of them. I have seen too many used barrels sold that should have been used for planters not wine.
Malvina
Oh!
(I am responding late because I was not available yesterday.)
I recommend you re-read my posts. I don't recall telling anyone or recommending that anyone ever buy a used oak barrel.
As far as the thread's main question, I think the question was whether to buy a new or used barrel.
Did I say I had a distaste for oak? I don't recall saying that, either.
My post was a direct response to the post just above it, as having referenced it should indicate. (It was not off-topic, although I can't say that for THIS post).
You never answered my question concerning barrel size, either, but that's OK, it doesn't matter at this point.
You know, likely half or much more of the people on this forum make kit wines. Some of us make both. Many have never made wine from fresh/frozen grapes. Most likely would like to, but many may never. That's a thought you might want to keep in mind.
Some new question(s) - Was your response to me in relation to kits or fresh/frozen grapes? Have you ever made a 6-gallon kit wine? How about even a 6-gallon juice bucket wine? Many of each?
I ask these (not really expecting answers) because the application of an oak barrel, though having common considerations, just might present some additional, different considerations for kits and/or such small quantities of even fresh/frozen wine. I don't think you took this under consideration.
I have followed pretty much every post you have ever made on this forum. I must say you really know your stuff about fresh/frozen grape wine making, specifically and in generally. I doubt there are many technical questions you can't answer or at least can't readily find the answer. For this I have a lot of respect for you and always look forward to your responses.
I think the exception is kit wines and possibly very small batches of fresh/frozen. Kits require a whole different set of considerations and I think most of your posts do not consider this. That's OK.
Was the person who started the thread asking the question, because he/she wants to make fresh/frozen grape wine or wine from a kit? Neither of us really know what the intended purpose is. They didn't say and I am sorry I didn't ask, as it might have saved us all a lot of typing, had we known specifically.
I don't care to argue with you. I'll just end any further response to this off-topic discussion with saying neutral barrels have a special place in kit and very small batch wine making. No reason to even bother explaining it at this point, since we don't know it it is even relevant.
I apologize to the person who originated this thread for having gotten away from the intended topic.
Back on topic:
I would be very careful buying a used barrel. I guess if you know the winery well and how exactly the barrel has been used and when it was last used, you might consider it, but I personally doubt I would ever take the chance.
Other than that, they do make nice furniture and planters.
