Yeah, this barrel was the floor model and had the plastic wrap
partially removed and yes it was expensive, so probably sat there for a
long time.

The barrel eventually did stop leaking and I have my wine in it. I've
got a second run made with kit juice and my skins in the barrel now.
The grape wine is aging in a carbouy and when the second is well oaked,
I can put the grape wine in for a longer period.

I'll use this barrel for a while and when I'm ready for another one
I'll make sure to get a new cooperage.

My hobby is getting out of control but my wine is getting a lot better.

Dan

Tom S wrote:
> "Clyde Gill" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > With all that said, I'd call the person who you bought it from. A well
> > coopered barrel will not leak at all. For point of reference, I fill
> > my barrels with wine without *any* presoaking, and have never seen
> > anything more than a slight ooze that stops within a day.
>
> True enough, Clyde - but this is a really small barrel, and I'd guess it's
> not a recently coopered one. It probably sat drying out in a homebrew shop
> for quite awhile as sticker-shocked potential buyers walked by it on the way
> to the StaVin beans. :^/
>
> Tom S
> www.chateauburbank.com