Fitting of the top and bottom head pieces didn't happen during my visit: the hoops at either end of the barrel are removed to let the barrel expand slightly. The head pieces are slid inside, slotting into a groove cut around the inner circumferance of the barre. The steel hoops are tightened again to squeeze the barrel together and grip the head pieces. This short film by wine-pages.com was made in the cooperage of Louis Latour in Burgundy.
