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" Mercurey is a unique and special cooper. The barrels are distinct in their toast style and have seriously good wood selection and handling offering remarkably fine tannins. We use Mercurey with our Chardonnay and find the aromatic influence to be complimentary and character building. The mouth feel is rarely outdone by any other cooper. These are high impact barrels with the second and third use also very valuable." Virginia Willcock Winemaker Vasse Felix
TM has long been a pioneer cooper, when we first introduced the barrels to Australia in 1992 we spoke about our unique approach, selecting oak based on grain versus single forest. Today, many coopers take this approach. Our distinction then, is still the same now. We believe in the quality of the oak itself rather than purely a perceived quality based on appellation.
Since 1992, TM proposed a selection of oak from three different forests, depending of its management, based around the grain and colour of the stave. It is our TM tradition range
Nicolas Tarteret, the owner of the cooperage, in the last twenty years, has identified the importance of the soil type in the forest and how it effects the growth, colour, grain size and aroma of the oak. This development is providing an evolution of our range and our approach in the Tonnellerie. This new offer is summarised in our TM Terroirr range.
Nearly ten years of collaboration with Chateau Haut Bailly, in Pessac Leognan, helped us to developed a specific Bordeaux range. Years of trials with the Chateau have now come to fruition and we can offer a range of Cabernet specific barrels. Based on the traditional 22mm thick staves, used extensively throughout the region.
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An assemblage of 3 forests with grading of the grain and the colour of the stave.
TIGHT GRAIN SELECTION 2Y -27MM
After 24 months of air-drying seasoning in the high rainfall area of the Côte de Bar, Southern Champagne, where our stave mill is situated, we select wood sourced from a minimum of 3 different forests.
This blend mainly consist in tight grain sourced from ‘TSF’, with very fine grain sourced from ‘‘TSF in conversion’’ and a few staves with grain up to 3 mm:
- > 3mm : 4 staves
- Tight grain : 18 to 20 staves
- Very fine grain: 8 to 10 staves
GRAND CRU SELECTION 3Y
After 36 months of air-drying seasoning in the high rainfall area of the Côte de Bar, Southern Champagne, where our stave mill is situated, we pick wood sourced from a minimum of 3 different forests.
This blend consists mainly of very fine grain sourced from Futaie, completed with tight grain sourced from TSF en Conversion and a stave with grain up to 3 mm:
- > 3mm : 1 stave maximum
- Tight grain : 10 staves
- Very fine grain: 20 staves
The concept is the same as Fine Grain Selection 2Y, with higher criteria in terms of grain and color.
SELECTION NICOLAS
After 30 months of air-drying seasoning in the high rainfall area of the Côte de Bar, Southern Champagne, where our stave mill is situated, we pick wood sourced from a minimum of 3 different forests.
This blend consists mainly of very fine grain sourced from Futaie, completed with tight grain sourced from TSF en Conversion and a stave with grain up to 3 mm:
- > 3mm : 1 staves max
- Thin grain : 10 staves
- Very fine grain: 20 staves
This blend follows the same rules as the Grand Cru Selection 3Y in term of grain size. However, the forests location and soil quality chosen for Selection Nicolas are specific and present lighter and pinker colors to perfectly match our CLL toast.
HAUTE FUTAIE
Haute Futaie is a selection of wood sourced exclusively from forests managed in “Haute Futaie”. Trees are regenerated in high density (100.000/ha) and progressively selected during their growth to obtain only 150 mature trees, almost two centuries later. The high level of competition for light in these forests pushes the trees in height, resulting in only very fine and extra tight grain with a specific aromatic profile (high level of lignin). This wood is air-dried for 30 months in the high rainfall area of the Côte de Bar, Southern Champagne, where our stave mill is situated.
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An assemblage of 3 soil specific forests with grading of the grain and the colour of the stave
CRAIE SELECTION- CHALK SELECTION
When fresh wood enters in the stave mill we set aside wood grown under TSF forestry management on the chalky soils of Champagne and north Chablis. After 24 months of air-drying seasoning in the high rainfall area of the Côte de Bar, Southern Champagne, where our stave mill is situated, we select from that stock, wood sourced from a minimum of 3 different areas.
The grain composition of Craie selection is similar to Tight Grain Selection 2Y
PIERRE SELECTION
Pierre wood comes exclusively from TSF forest situated on top of several hills in the north of Burgundy presenting dry rocky soils. This results in lower and larger trees, with a more chaotic growth. Thus, “Pierre” wood possess an intrinsic heterogeneity that naturally completes our blending philosophy. You will be able to see for yourself that a single stave of this wood possess different aspects of grain and color.
Pierre woods are air-dried for 30 months in the high rainfall area of the Côte de Bar, Southern
Champagne, where our stave mill is situated.
- > 3mm : 1 staves max
- Tight grain : 10 staves
- Very fine grain: 20 staves
PRESTIGE (27 MM)
This specific blend is composed only by extra fine grain, from the selection of our best Haute Futaie oak grown exclusively on sandy / Argilus soil. This is a unique and exclusive selection, presenting a clear pink colour and mineral cedar-like smell.
The clear pink color comes from the combination of the Haute Futaie forestry management and a specific sandy & argilus terroir.
This wood is air-dried for 36 months in the high rainfall area of the Côte de Bar, Southern Champagne, where our stave mill is situated.
We find this oak quality in certain trees of small state-owned forests, where sand dominates the soil composition such as in Fontaibleau, Senonches, Reno-Valdieu, Belleme, Russy, Boulogne, Beaulieu, La Haie Renaut, Tronçais, Berce and Retz.
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“We started working with Tonnellerie de Mercurey in 2005, including them in our selection of premium barrel coopers. Their superior quality oak brings out toast and brioche aromas, with a sweet note and a great silky texture. After 16 months of ageing, our best cabernet sauvignon grape wines get even more complexity in these particular barrels, without any bitterness or astringency. Our trustful relationship with the team of Mercurey also confirms our desire to
continue working with them.” - Véronique Sanders, Château Haut-Bailly.
Specific Bordeaux and cabernet barrels with 22mm thick staves for better oxygen exchange needed by the cabernet family. 24 months ageing – Bordeaux shape only.
TIGHT GRAIN SELECTION -22MM
After 24 months of air-drying seasoning in the high rainfall area of the Côte de Bar, Southern Champagne, where our stave mill is situated, we select wood sourced in a minimum of 3 different forests.
This blend consists mainly of tight grain sourced from ‘TSF in conversion’, completed with Very fine grain source from Futaie and a few staves with grain up to 3 mm:
- > 3mm : 1 stave
- Tight grain : 20 staves
- Very fine grain: 10 staves
SELECTION NICOLAS – CLL 22
After 24 months of air-drying seasoning in the high rainfall area of the Côte de Bar, Southern Champagne, where our stave mill is situated, we pick wood sourced from a minimum of 3 different forests.
This blend consists mainly of very fine grain sourced from Futaie, completed with tight grain sourced from TSF en Conversion and a stave with grain up to 3 mm:
- > 3mm : 1 staves max
- Thin grain : 10 staves
- Very fine grain: 20 staves
This blend follows the same rules as the Grand Cru Selection 3Y in term of grain size. However, the forests location and soil quality chosen for Selection Nicolas are specific and present lighter and pinker colors to perfectly match our CLL toast.
PRESTIGE 22MM
This specific blend is composed only by extra fine grain, from the selection of our best Haute Futaie oak grown exclusively on sandy / Argilus soil. This is a unique and exclusive selection, presenting a clear pink colour and mineral cedar-like smell.
The clear pink color comes from the combination of the Haute Futaie forestry management and a specific sandy & argilus terroir.
This wood is air-dried for 24 months in the high rainfall area of the Côte de Bar, Southern Champagne, where our stave mill is situated.
We find this oak quality in certain trees of small state-owned forests, where sand dominates the soil composition such as in Fontaibleau, Senonches, Reno-Valdieu, Belleme, Russy, Boulogne, Beaulieu, La Haie Renaut, Tronçais, Berce and Retz. |
Please consult the TM Prime and TM Terroir d'exceptions for information about these two new ranges oak selections |
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