uring the harvest the grapes are brought to the cellars where they are vinified in wooden vats of about 200 hectolitres. These rows of wooden vats is a pleasure to see and illustrates the traditional approach to wine-making that prevails at Langoa and Léoville Barton. Some years ago the fashion was to replace thes wooden vats with stainless steel. This choice was justified as it enabled a better control of temperatures than in wood. The Barton considered firstly that the investment was too important in view of the excellent quality produced in the past in wooden vats, and secondly because it was probable that in the near futur a system would be developed for temperature control in the existing vats. This did indeed happen and today a system of thermo-regulation makes it possible to ferment the juice at any chosen temperature. So there is no regret for keeping the wooden vats which are undoubtedly more attractive to the eye.