A complete portfolio with French Oak barrels from Sylvain, M
Tonnellerie Sylvain (Bordeaux)
The Tonnellerie Sylvain is in Libourne in the Bordeaux region and was founded in 1957. The production of over 30,000 barrels a year is made selecting oak trees from the most beautiful French forests that are managed sustainably by the National Forestry Organization.
The French oak barrels profiles are based on a very selective process of grain tightness used as a precise tool for a variety of benefits.
Sylvain Blanc
Selection
Reserve
Grand Reserve
Biodynamie - Limited Series
Signature - Limited Series
Generally speaking Sylvain barrels are recognized worldwide for their elegant and subtle aromas, helping wine to have improved mid palate structure and lots of length. Each oak profile achieves a distinct goal so please contact us to receive guidance in making the right choice.
Tonnellerie Meyrieux (Bourgogne)
The Famille Sylvain includes since 2012 the Tonnellerie Meyrieux near Beaune in Bourgogne. Meyrieux crafts about 6,000 barrels-year choosing oak trees from specific forests plots carefully selecting grain. Oak purchases are 100% French through the Famille Sylvain.
The oak staves are aged in a unique chimney stack pattern for an homogeneous exposure to sunshine, wind and rain.
Meyrieux already has a solid reputation in France and around the world for Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Syrah grape varieties. Recently the workshop was expanded in surface to provide improvement of the toasting and finishing areas, including a special positive air displacement and dust-fumes suction hood.
Particular attention is devoted to select grain and apply light to toast levels to lift fruity wine aromas and enrich a more defined mid palate structure.
Meyrieux offers three profiles of oak from an Aromatic and structured barrel with a rapid influence of oak; one that elegantly supports the expression of wines of character; and one that reveals a nice tension and is ideal for long aging.
Barrel profiles
Premier Cru
Tradition
Grand Selection
Toasting regimes
Blonde
Medium
A Coeur
Max
Grenier Oak Tanks (Bourgogne)
The Famille Sylvain includes since 2015 Marc Grenier, a prestigious Oak Tank builder in Beaune, Bourgogne. Grenier is an innovator in creating new types of conical oak tanks and foudres and has supplied the most renowned wineries in France and abroad. The production is now managed by Remi Sylvain and there have been major renovation and expansion of the production facility.
We provide Truncated Oak Tanks (Cuve) for fermenting and aging, as well as Oval and Round Tanks (Foudre) for aging.
French Oak is Special
The ONF (National Forestry Office)
The ONF (National Forestry Office)
The ONF (National Forestry Office)
The ONF manages all french forests owned by the government with very strict rules. An army of 10,000 workers oversees 11million Hectares of forest.
A 200+ year growth cycle
The ONF (National Forestry Office)
The ONF (National Forestry Office)
These majestic oak trees are not planted by humans, they follow a natural 200+ years growth cycle with very little man intervention.
Haute Futaie
The ONF (National Forestry Office)
Haute Futaie
A Haute Futaie is a mature oak tree of about 50-80cm in diameter and 180-220years old. It grows straight up looking for sunlight and fighting for its survival.
Sessile Oak
Aging the staves
Haute Futaie
The Sessile Oak species has a distinct look and provides more pleasant aromas and less tannin than its counterpart the Pedonculate Oak specie. You will find more vanilla, eugenol and whisky-lactone aromas.
Logs are split
Aging the staves
Aging the staves
The first step to insure mechanical and organoleptic quality is to split trunk sections following the natural grain direction of the oak to insure leak proof staves. Eventually the staves are cut in to the ideal size.
Aging the staves
Aging the staves
Aging the staves
The action of letting staves age naturally in open air allows for enzymes to eat away harsh tannin over 24 to 36 months. Sunlight, rain, heat and cold and wind patterns all play a very important role.