2022 Peter Lauer Ayler 'Village Level No.1' Riesling Trocken, Mosel, Germany

ABOUT THIS WINE

From the producer: "It doesn’t always have to be Pinot Grigio… For lovers of the milder but dry taste, we recommend this fine Ortswein, or village wine. On the east-facing slope of the Kuppe, or brow, which enjoys the first rays of the morning sun, we harvest grapes for this wine, which has ripe exotic notes, along with a wholesome, mild-spicy aftertaste. N° 1 combines the strengths of the Saar and shows good development and aging potential."

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

For purists, there is nothing like the Saar. The magic here is intensity without weight, grandiosity without size: rocks and acidity. Lauer is currently one of greatest estates in this sacred place. The style here is 180 degrees removed from his famous neighbors Egon Müller and Zilliken. The focus here is on dry and dry-tasting Riesling. While the source of most of the bottlings is the famed Ayler Kupp, Florian uses the pre-1971 vineyard names – Neuenberg, Stirn, Unterstenberg. Rigorous vineyard work, indigenous yeasts and spontaneous fermentations mean the wines find their own balance. The results are undeniable: depth, texture, dimension, clarity, cut. For Lauer, the large site of the Ayler Kupp has many different terroirs rather than a single, defining character. Soil composition, exposition, altitude, and microclimate in combination with vine age all make contributions to the individual character of each wine.