Werlitsch, Ex-Vero II 'S' 2022

Place: Styria, Austria

Grape: Chardonnay + Sauvignon Blanc

Vibe: Natural, textural

Ex Vero is one of the most beautiful vineyards I've had the pleasure of laying eyes on. A steep, verdant hillside nestled between Ewald at the bottom and his brother Andreas Tscheppe's house at the top. The energy here is palpable and it reverberates through the bottles too.

II comes from the mid slopes. A slightly different expression, same guaranteed deliciousness, with a little more Chardonnay. This S bottling carries a trace of residual, the ferment having gone long and slow and never quite finished. Over time it has melted into the wine, the slight spritz more noticeable than any real sweetness, all balanced by real acidity. Decant it and be ready for one hell of a ride.