Rive Gauche Toast
Rive Gauche toast is our traditional Cognac style from retired Taransaud Cooper and patriarch Jose Maria Goncalves. Characterized with high oak tannins and our highest overall impact, this is a very hot and fast toast with mocha aromas and flavors. Rive Gauche is ideal for big Cabernet and other big, ripe Bordeaux varietals. Because Rive Gauche takes time to integrate, we recommend a minimum of 12 months (ideally 18 to 36 months) for tannins to integrate and lengthen the finish of the wine.
Rive Droite+ Toast
Rive Droite+ toast yields medium oak tannins and moderate overall oak impact. The Rive Droite+ toast is our spiciest toasting technique with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon as well as some richer components like caramel and cocoa. Rive Droite+ is recommended for most Bordeaux varietals, with a minimum 10 to 24 months aging time for ideal integration.
Classique Toast
Classique toast is a traditional Burgundian medium-high style that yields sweet mocha flavors with a silky finish. Classique barrels are available with water immersion to soften tannins and add roundness in the mid-palate. Classique is recommended for BDX varietals, Syrah, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with immersion, with a minimum 10 to 24 months aging time.
Lumineuse+ Toast
Lumineuse+ is a low, long toast for an elegant impact. All Lumineuse+ barrels begin with a water immersion process to soften tannins and add roundness on the mid-palate. The barrels are toasted long and low to caramelize sugars and break down tannins. The result is a roasted marshmallow aroma with vanilla and butterscotch flavors. These delicate barrels produce oak sweetness without covering fruit with heavy tannin or smoke. Recommended for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with a minimum 8 to 18 months aging time.
Marc Le Grand Signature Toasting
The Signature line of barrels are available with three distinct toast levels: Signature | Signature+ | Halo. Signature barrels combine our finest 30 month, air-dried French oak with long, deep toasting for an elegant balance of tannin and oak sweetness. Signature toast is long and low to create an elegant framework and elevate fruit. Signature + starts low but finishes with medium heat for more spice characteristics. Halo toast is a medium-long toast yielding rich mocha and coffee notes. Our Marc Le Grand Signature barrels all offer subtle, sweet oak aromas and flavors with velvety texture and mouth feel. We recommend 16 to 36 months ageing with these exceptional barrels.
Moderne | American Oak Toasting
Moderne is our high vanillin toast. This toast was specifically designed for American oak to destroy a maximum amount of oak lactones (coconut) while at the same time producing maximum sweetness (toasted marshmallow) in the barrels. We recommend 6 to 12 months aging for whites and a minimum 10 to 18 months aging for red varietals.
American Oak can also be toasted with Rive Droite+ Toast with similar results as in French oak.
