The wine is at first very flinty, floral, leesy on the nose with tart, high-tones of green apple, yellow pear, and underripe pineapple on the palate. The wine has a fullness yet is incredibly stony, with very high acidity--think flint of a Sancerre mixed with the petrol notes of an Alsatian Riesling and the crisp, stoniness and tree fruits of a Chablis.

The second in the Ex Vero series, this Sauvignon + Chardonnay blend comes from vines planted on higher parcels where the soil is less dense and contains less nutrients. The poorer soils here retain less water which controls the vigour of the vines and forces the roots to bury deeper into the earth, yielding fruit with more complexity and finesse. The fruit is hand harvested, spontaneously fermented in stainless steel, and aged for two years in large 3 year old oak barrels.

Region: Steirerland
Grape: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard Size: 12 hectares
Soil: chalk, marl
Average Age of Vines: 30 years
Farming: organic, biodynamic
Harvest: by hand
Winemaking: direct press, spontaneous fermentation in neutral oak with indigenous yeasts
Aging: méthode ancestrale
Fining: none
Filtration: none
Added S02: none

Werlitsch's Ex-Vero series are rather legendary in the finer world of natural wine and is divided into regions on the Werlitsch slopes, Ex Vero ll S being harvested from the middle. This is a special, very limited bottling of the Ex Vero ll S from a barrel that didn't finish fermentation leading to a bit of residual sugar. Great with spicy food! White flowers and white peach, melon with smoky nuances, mineral and high acidity.