Step 3
of 5
The cooper's fire — toasting
Most “barrel flavor” is really fire flavor. To bend the wooden staves into a barrel, the cooper holds them over a fire. The longer the fire, the deeper the toast — and the more vanilla, caramel, mocha and smoke the barrel imparts.
Light toast (~5 min) gives fresh wood and subtle spice. Medium (~10 min) brings vanilla, butter and caramel. Heavy (~15 min) lands on mocha, espresso, smoke and charred bread.
The mocha and espresso notes in many Argentine Malbecs aren't from the grape. They're from the cooper's fire.
