AP John American Oak, Forest Selections
Ap John Coopers
The John family first settled in South Australia’s world-renowned Barossa Valley in the 1840s.
Since then, five generations of the John Family have continued an unbroken connection with the viticulture, winemaking and coopering industries within the Barossa valley. Today the business is managed by the fourth-generation master cooper Peter John – great-grandson of the company founder.
More than thirty years after joining the company, Peter continues to nurture and develop relationships with the world’s suppliers of super premium oak, visiting forests and mills around the world on a regular basis.
Ap John Coopers is renowned as Australia’s premier Cooper.
AP John Coopers American Oak Barrels
AP John Coopers have a long-standing relationship with foresters and millers in the United States of America and have been sourcing oak from premium oak growers for 65 years.
Our American oak receives high level of precipitation in the country of origin for a minimum of 36 months prior to shipment to our cooperage. This extended seasoning regime to leach hydrolysable oak tannins, results in a very stylish American oak barrel that highlights fruit character with low levels of toast, cis & trans lactone characters.
Regional select American Oak range.
Shenandoah
Fine Grain select – Medium light toast only.
Oak is selected from the elevated Shenandoah Ranges nested between the Appalachian and Allegheny mountains of West Virginia and Virginia. Sandy clay over the shale and sedimentary rock promotes slow growth.
The customized toasting provides a barrel that enhances primary fruit characteristics and contributes sweet spice and subtle vanilla. With time the oak tannins work with the fruit to promote a silky mouth feel and seamless structure. This tight-grained oak assists line and length and is a great match for full-bodied wines requiring extended maturation.
This barrel is being successfully used on premium Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz.
Ozark Premium
Fine Grain select – Medium light toast only.
Oak is selected from the Ozarks region of Missouri. Generally, logs are sourced from high ridge topography with rocky limestone substrate.
The tightly formed grain spacing and customized toasting provide a highly aromatic barrel with lifted spice and savoury nuances. The palate is tightly structured with fine oak tannins contributing to very good length. This structured barrel is ideally suited to full-bodied wines benefiting from long term maturation.
This barrel is being successfully used on premium Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Appalachian
Naturally tight grain – House Toast.
Sourced from the South West Pennsylvania/West Virginia ‘pan handle’ foothills area of the Appalachian & Allegheny Mountain ranges. Naturally tight grain due to typical slow growth. Soft integrating oak tannins providing good mid-palate, structure and length.
Missouri
The oak is sourced from Central Missouri along the high ridge growth areas, generally the soils have a thick layer of limestone substrate. Typical medium-fine grain. The Missouri oak adds a complex array of understated American oak characters. Sweet spice aromatic and subtle mouth feel accompany textural tannins on the palate. This barrel is well suited for cooler climate fruit or medium-bodied varietals requiring subtle American oak influence. Ideally, wine in this barrel will benefit from 10 – 14 months maturation.
This barrel has a sweeter finish and is successfully being used on Shiraz or Pinotage, or wines looking for a sweeter spicy finish.
Minnesota
The growing region for this regional select is from the Minnesota Lakes district.
The customized toasting provides a barrel that enhances the primary fruit characters and contributes, sweet spice and underlying subtle seasoned oak. With time the fine oak tannins work with the fruit to promote a silky mouth feel and seamless structure. The tight-grained oak assists line and length and is a great match for full bodied wines requiring extended maturation.
This barrel is very well suited for most South African red wines especially Shiraz, Pinotage, Malbec & Merlot to name a few. It has a very elegant finish that mimics French oak.
Kind regards
WMG Team