Reusing oak staves?

Question

Hello, I have some oak mini staves that were in a cabernet for about 3-4 months. I don't know what brand they are but they are about 6 inches long by about

3/8 inches thick and two inches wide. If barrels can be good for 3 years I expect these staves to still have flavor left in them. One possible problem is that when I took them out and rinsed them off a few of the ones on the bottom got some mold growing on them. I can throw those away but how do I make certain the others are clean. Will soaking them in sulphite sterilize any spores that might be on the wood? Should I just trash them?

-Alex P

Tom S · Accepted Answer

If you don't see anything growing on them, I'd guess that they are OK to reuse. Just scrub them with sulfite solution and rinse them first. I wouldn't expect such thin wood to have a lot of flavor left after 4 months in wine however.

Tom S

Alex · Answer

How deep can wine leach tanins out of a barrel?-Alex P

Ray Calvert · Answer

It is my understanding that those staves are designed for one use and then they are pretty much used up. Since wine contacts them on each side, the wood only hast to be leched half the thickness to use it up. I don't think you are going to get anythng out of them after 3 months use. They should not hurt anything but ...

Ray

Reusing oak staves?

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