Tonneau

The Golden Mean Of Oak Ageing
A tonneau (plural: tonneaux) is a wooden vessel that sits perfectly between small barriques and large casks in size. It's all about that wine to wood surface ratio. These 500-1000 liter oak containers, born in Bordeaux, offer winemakers the 'just right' approach to wood aging.

Technical Advantages:
Tonneaux are the gentle giants of oak aging. Their larger size and thicker staves mean softer oak influence than barriques. The sweet-spot ratio between wine volume and wood surface creates perfect conditions for micro-oxygenation while respecting the wine's true character.

Modern Applications:
From Chardonnay to Cabernet, tonneaux play well with many varieties. They excel with whites by adding structure without overwhelming, while helping reds soften their tannins without losing fruit purity. Steam-bent staves for delicate whites, fire-bent for bold reds - winemakers have options.

Multiple Uses:
Like all oak, tonneaux start bold on first use but mellow with age. They're more cost-effective than barriques while offering similar benefits of controlled oxidation and texture development. After about three to four uses, new barrels become neutral and no longer contribute significant oak flavors to the wine. Smart wineries rotate them every few years to maintain desired oak levels.

To Sum It All Up...
Tonneaux represent the middle path of oak aging - not too much, not too little, but I guess for most applications just right. Their growing popularity maybe shows how modern winemaking favors subtlety over showmanship.