Over 400 million years ago, some of the oldest rocks in Austria were formed in what is now the Kitzeck-Sausal appellation. Phyllitic slate with red and black coloration, sometimes thinly foliated, sometimes compact, with inclusions of quartz, sericite and potassium feldspar, often characterize the wines growing in this beautiful landscape more than the grape varieties do. The climate, shaped by the Alps and the influence of the Mediterranean, has just as much influence, providing warm, sunny days as well as cool nights. The slopes are sometimes unbelievably steep, even if they look harmless in their lush green. Great STK sites such as the Edelschuh or Hochsteinriegl vineyards give the wines of Monika and Gerhard Wohlmuth Jr their unmistakable, crystalline, uniquely slatey character, whether Riesling, Chardonnay (Morillon) or Sauvignon Blanc, which here is always combined with radiant fruit, power and intensity. The Grosse Lage wines (GSTK) are allowed to mature for 18 months in large wooden barrels, the Erste Lagen (1STK) for 12 months. These are long-lasting wines, as I have experienced time and again on various occasions. After all, the family knows what they are doing, as they have been growing vines under these extreme conditions for more than 220 years, since 1803 to be precise! Today, this is done in the vineyards, up to 90% of which are steep, using only manual labor and up to 1,200 working hours per hectare. Herbicides and insecticides have not been used for many years. The wine labels are designed anew each vintage by an artist and have been for 35 years now. The upcoming 2023 vintage is in no way inferior to the 2022 vintage in terms of quality, and both are by no means in the shadow of the 2021 vintage, which is considered "great." This is a reliably excellent producer with some of the finest Styrian wines.