On 2007-05-08, Mark Lipton wrote:

>> What's "new oak" and what's considered undesirable about it? (I'm
>> guessing that it refers to aging in unused barrels --- but what were
>> the used ones used for?)
>
> New oak barrels are exactly that: oak barrels which haven't yet been
> used to make wine. New oak barrels, especially high toast ones or ones
> made from American oak, are notorious for imparting very strong flavors
> to the wine that have nothing to do with the grapes themselves. Many
> people like those flavors; others do not. If you drink enough wine, you
> might conclude (like I have) that new oak is like makeup: used with
> restraint and a sense of artistry, it can enhance, but used clumsily it
> can be grotesque. YMMV, of course.

OK! But that does mean that the winemakers who oppose new oak are
expecting other winemakers to do their dirty work (turning new oak
into old oak) for them.