An oaky wine will usually taste and smell of freshly sawn wood, or may have sweet vanilla flavors.
For intance, having white wine with a steak is perfectly acceptable, especially if you've selected a big, oaky Chardonnay; however, if you are serving a delicately flavored white wine, the steak might overpower it.
This allows the oaky characteristics of the wine to develop.
This is not your average oaky, candied mess that abounds these days in the Merlot aisle.
First, if you're the type who loves to drink those oaky, buttery-slick California Chardonnays, I think you can skip this one.