We had a very dry spring leading up to vintage 2016 and it was windy, too. We expect windy conditions in Willunga, but this was pretty intense. October and December were both pretty warm, whereas November was mild. Very healthy crops were recorded across all varieties in McLaren Vale. We had a huge downpour at the end of January a few days before the whites were due to be picked; this kind of weather event tends to give Joch a sense of tightening around the left chest area, neck and sometimes down the arm. However this 50mm downpour succeeded in refreshing the vines, giving us a few more days before picking and bringing the lawns back from the brink. February was mild with cool nights and March provided pretty good picking conditions, give or take a few warm days.Making this classic Bordeaux white blend is a pretty simple process, as much as the winemakers don’t like to be seen to do the work of mere mortals. The trick is keeping the grapes cool (so they are picked at night) and by keeping the ferment cool (by fermenting in stainless steel whose temperature we can control) so that we preserve all of the delicate fruit flavours.

This wine also doesn’t spend any time in oak, because we don’t want to mask the gorgeous floral characters of the wine. Sauvignon Blanc is picked a little earlier than the Semillon generally, but as you can see from the picking dates, not this year! . We also try and keep the wine away from oxygen (‘reductive handling’) as well. Once through ferment, a little settling occurs in tank, a clean-up and then to bottle. Hardly the work of the Gods, is it? The result is pretty heavenly though…. You had to let me have that one, didn’t you?!What a terrific and versatile style of wine ‘Forget-me-not’ is – with its beautiful delicate floral nose with lemony and lantana characters. It is fresh and bright with a lovely acidity and it finishes with a lemon and floral burst. Perfect served chilled as an aperitif or with seafood, Thai spice or, well, the list is endless.  What does 'cellaring' wines actually mean? Cellaring wine involves storing young wines until they are at a point where the optimum drinking pleasure can be achieved.

Why does one need to cellar wine? Some wines not only become more interesting with age but can actually require ageing to make them a pleasant drinking experience! The other reason to store young wines yourself for drinking at a later date, is the scarcity of mature wines to be had at a price you'd want to pay. Buy them when they are young at a cheaper price and you just have to wait for the wines to mature. What sort of wines should I choose to cellar? Medium to high quality wines can benefit from ageing but cheap wines will simply deteriorate. The choice of wine therefore is vital. Also pick wine styles you like! No good having mature wine you don't want to drink. The grape varieties that can age best are (reds) Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah and (whites) Chardonnay, Riesling and Sémillon. For regions, it is safest to stick to Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône, Chablis, Sauternes and the top Piedmont, Mosel, Californian and Australian wines. How do I buy wine to cellar?

Our Tailor Made Cellar Plan is an ideal place to start but you can also try buying wines at auction, from the producer or a merchant. Buying wines 'En Primeur' enables you to secure wines at a reduced price prior to bottling. Where and how should I store my wine? Really there are only two places to store your wine; best wine guide franceeither in a wine warehouse (either with the merchant from whom you bought it or another warehouse) or at home. best cheap wine bcWherever the wine is stored, it should be:best meals to eat with wine How do I know when the wine will be ready to drink?best wine for special occasions

Rather unhelpfully, the only real way to tell is by trial and error because different people like wine at different stages of maturity. If you want some guidance though, our Fine Wine Department will be happy to assist you. How do I sell my wine? BBX (Berrys' Broking Exchange) is the online fine wine trading service that enables customers to sell, and buy, privately stored wines in Berrys’ UK bonded warehouse. buy turning leaf wine onlineSelling wine via BBX is simple and straightforward.best cheap turkish wineNo listing fees, free valuation guides and a fixed 10% commission on all wines sold. Firstly you need to register as a BBX seller. How do I request delivery for my stored wine? You can request delivery to UK addresses for unplit cases of wines stored IN BOND and pay the associated Duty & VAT charges, by using the facility in your online account. 

Log in to your account and go to your Cellared Wines section.  In Bond wines in your cellars will display the "request delivery" button. Click to add a case to your basket and check out for the payment of VAT and Duty charges. As part of the check-out, you can define the delivery address. If your delivery is to a non-UK address or if you want to request delivery for a Duty-Paid wine, please call us on +44 (0)800 280 2440  Mon to Fri 9am-6pm  Sat 10am-4pmPage 8-9: Hex & Heyson All Page 8-9: Hex & Heyson Hex & Heysen Pinot Gris 2016 This is a dry, delicate and crisp style of Pinot Gris with fragrant aromas of lemon, pear and citrus blossom. The palate is awash with nashi pear, lemon zest and structural mouth-watering natural acidity. Page 8-9: Hex & Heyson Hex & Heysen Sauvignon Blanc 2016 Pure and fresh aromas of zesty citrus are followed by a dry palate with clean flavours of crisp tropical fruits, crunchy red apple, lime and juicy acidity. A beautifully balanced, refreshing and delicious drop.