Oak is an indispensable element for the production of great wines. Oenology departments invest a great deal of effort in finding the wood that brings elegance to their wines. But why oak? What does this type of wood provide and not others? Has it always been like this?

Because of its peculiar characteristics: adequate transfer of tannic components and aromas, exact oxygen supply through the pores… barrels for wine ageing are made almost exclusively from oak wood. But this was not always the case; in the past, they were made from the most abundant wood in the place of production and their supply was also highly conditioned by the development and needs of the shipbuilding industry. For this reason, other woods such as chestnut, pine, acacia, cherry, ash, beech, oak, etc. were used.

At Tonelería Murúa we have historically worked with oak barrels. In fact, several of our suppliers have been doing so for four generations, since Don Justo Murúa started his company in 1898. Hence our experience, knowledge and love for oak.

Thanks to the noble components that oak wood possesses, barrels made from these woods provide aromatic compounds that complement the profile of wines, and tannins that increase the sensations of structure in the mouth. They also play a fundamental role in the ageing of the wine.

French and American oak are the two main types of oak used to make our barrels. But there are important differences between one and the other. Do we see them?

French oak

French oak (Quercus petraea) comes from the forests of central France. Its concentration of ellagic tannins is 3 to 5 times higher than that of American oak and therefore provides an important polyphenolic structure to the wine, gives greater length in the mouth and promotes colour stabilisation. In general, the balsamic and spicy aromas are very respectful of the wine’s fruit.

After many months of natural drying in our patios, our Murúa French oak barrels guarantee subtlety, balance and respect for the fruit. As a result, we will have wines with greater length in the centre of the mouth and will enhance the tactile sensations of the wine that confer greater persistence and structure. They will be wines with great length and finesse.

The different aromatic descriptors will evolve according to the intensity and time of toasting because each barrel is made in agreement with the winery’s oenologist.

One more step: Soixante Murúa. A barrel whose production is limited to 300 units per year and which is the result of exhaustive chemical and sensory analyses on different varietals.

With a meticulous selection of extra-fine grain boards and after a natural drying of 60 months, this barrel is designed to enhance the structure of the wine and promote its noble refinement.

American oak

American oak (Quecus alba) comes exclusively from the forests of the Appalachian Mountains. The most suitable are selected for cooperage, but only the best boards are sent to be used in barrels for wine ageing.

It provides an adequate level of polysaccharides and gives the wine a greater volume on the palate. It imparts greater aromatic sensations than French oak.

These months of natural drying in the yard of Tonelería Murúa are fundamental for the maturation of this wood and guarantees that the barrel will provide the wine with the elegance of fine tannins. The aromatic notes, ranging from vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, mild spices and pastry nuances, will develop during the ageing of the wine depending on the intensity and time of toasting agreed with the winemaker.

On the other hand, the exclusive Murúa Selection American oak barrels, of which we only make 500 units per year, are the result of the development of a rigorous study on the behaviour of the wines. 36 months of natural drying and the meticulous selection of extra-fine grain boards ensure that Murúa Selection gives the wine the most delicate version of American white oak.

Choice of oak

After a hundred years in the sector, we know the woods, the methods of selecting the trunks and the care of the forests.

Our knowledge of all the factors involved in the choice of wood and the details of manufacture means that we can predict the behaviour of the barrel and decide which is the best choice to ensure harmony in the blending of wine and oak.

We choose the best specimens to turn them into the cradle of great wines. Knowing what we do from the beginning helps us to advise our customers. Ask us.

YOU WILL FIND US AT OUR NEW ADDRESS: AVDA LENTISCARES 35, 26370 NAVARRETE, LA RIOJA.