Werlitsch Ex Vero III 2023

Weingut Werlitsch sits in the Südsteiermark hills of southern Styria, where Ewald and Brigitte Tscheppe farm biodynamically on Opok, a calcareous marl of compacted clay and limestone. The steep, south-facing slopes and cool nights give slow ripening and firm acidity, and the poor, water-retentive soil pushes roots deep, feeding the wine its saline, mineral spine. Ex Vero III blends Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, fermented with native yeasts and aged 24 months in large old oak casks. The long, gentle contact with fine lees builds body and a savoury, umami depth, while the neutral, well-seasoned wood allows slow oxygen exchange without overt oak flavour, rounding the texture and adding a beeswax richness. The colour is deep gold. The nose is layered, with white peach, ripe pear, dried herbs and a nutty, honeyed edge. The palate is broad yet taut, the fruit carried by salty minerality and a long, grippy finish. This is a white to serve at 12 to 14 degrees in a large glass, ideally with a short decant.