Hi Armand,
I actually much prefer the second smother version. I think emphasising the grain in the wood too much, would detract the eye away from the ivy, which is your main compositional element I believe. I also think I would have shot the image straight on and parallel to the plane of focus, as opposed to leaning down on it slightly as I think you must have done, which would have also diminished the lens distortion effect you have created between the separate slats of wood.
Nice shot though and well worth going back for.
Dave