Dan,
I have a 5 gallon American oak that was unwrapped similar to yours, it
took forever to swell. It goes through phases where I see a leak,
tighten the hoops, etc; keep an eye on it. It was untoasted so it's
just not right for wine. I took it apart and toasted it myself which
helped.

Those first batches can get over-oaked very quickly, it's nothing like
beans or chips. I grossly over oaked a few batches initially but they
came back with time and a bit of work.

Taste it regularly. The next barrel I get will either be PA made or
Hungarian; we have a cooperage within 100 miles and they make real wine
barrels, not like mine.

Joe


> 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.