"Brian Lundeen" > wrote in message
...
> With a new 8 gallon barrel that has had a couple of fermentations done in
> it, what do you figure would be a reasonable time to get a strong oak
> character?

If it's been used a couple of times already, it really isn't a new barrel
anymore. I'd guess that, depending on how long the barrel has held wine,
you'd still pick up noticeable oak within weeks to several months.

Remember, it's OK to put some StaVin "beans" or oak chips into a used barrel
to restore some of that new barrel character.

Tom S