Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Unterstenberg - Unterstenbersch 'Fass 12' Riesling, Mosel, Germany

Salt, smoke, and a gently creamy texture connect the 2025 Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Unterstenberg - Unterstenbersch Fass 12 Riesling with our previous 2023 release. Drawn from old vines at the foot of the Ayler Kupp, this 12% ABV dry Riesling combines the parcel’s characteristic depth with the finesse highlighted by the importer in 2025. Spontaneous fermentation and four months in a wooden cask on full lees, with bâtonnage, give the wine substance while preserving its savoury, refreshing character.

Product Details:

2025 Vintage:

• Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 12%.
• Total Acidity: 6 g/L.
• Residual Sugar: 7.9 g/L.
• Grape Variety: Riesling.
• Style: Dry, designated trocken by the producer.
• Classification: VDP.GROSSE LAGE, the VDP’s highest vineyard classification.
• Vineyard Parcel: Unterstenberg, at the foot of the historic Ayler Kupp slope.
• Aspect & Gradient: South-facing; 10–55% gradient.
• Vine Age: 72 years.
• Soils: Fine, weathered slate.
• Yield: 46 hL/ha.
• Harvest: Late September into October 2025.
• Fruit Preparation: Whole-bunch pressing with maceration.
• Fermentation: Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts.
• Maturation: Four months in wooden cask on full lees, with bâtonnage.
• Current Owners: Partners Florian Lauer, Max Kirsch and Max Zellerhoff.
• Cellar Master: Max Zellerhoff.
• Vineyard Manager: Max Kirsch.
• Designation: Fass 12 / No. 12, Unterstenberg.

2023 Vintage Reference:

• Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 12%.
• Residual Sugar: Approximately 8–9 g/L.
• Grape Variety: Riesling.
• Style: Dry.
• Vineyard Source: Unterstenberg, on the lower slopes of the Ayler Kupp.
• Soils: Weathered slate.

Sensory Description:

The 2023 established a substantial, savoury reference point: smoky aromatics, pear, grapefruit and white flowers, followed by a creamy palate and a persistent herbal, mineral finish. Other reviews emphasised mandarin, grilled lemon and a pronounced salty character, reinforcing the impression of a Riesling with depth and structure rather than simple fruitiness.

The 2025 continues the parcel’s combination of concentration, creaminess and salinity. Smoky notes add aromatic interest, while lees maturation and stirring support the wine’s rounded middle. The importer highlights a particular finesse despite its depth and power. For returning customers, the attraction is continuity in texture and savoury character, with the new release offering another expression of the same hillside parcel. Both vintages sit at 12% ABV and have similar residual-sugar levels, so the comparison centres on their documented character rather than a dramatic analytical change.

Awards & Accolades:

The following recognitions apply to the previous 2023 vintage:

• JamesSuckling.com, 95 Points: December 2024, Stuart Pigott. “smoke and salt character with a touch of mandarin orange fruit”.
• Vinous, 92 Points: 2023 vintage. “The palate flows with deep saltiness and a touch of white miso savoriness that clings to peach.”
• JancisRobinson.com, 16+ Points: Tasted April 2024, Jancis Robinson. “Subdued nose and very mineral palate.”
• Mosel Fine Wines, 90+ Points: 2023 vintage. “It is nicely playful on the subtly creamy palate”.
• Heiner Lobenberg, 94–95+ Points: 2023 vintage, merchant assessment. Paraphrase: concentrated and supple, with a juicy texture and clearly expressed site character.

Winemaker’s Background:

Based in Ayl on the Saar, Weingut Peter Lauer explores Riesling through individual parcels, with numbered bottlings preserving the identity of sites such as Unterstenberg. Florian Lauer developed the estate’s modern reputation alongside vineyard manager Max Kirsch and cellar master Max Zellerhoff, who became partners in 2026. Zellerhoff had already taken a leading role in the 2025 vintage. At Unterstenberg, fine slate fragments accumulate below the steeper upper hillside, giving this lower parcel a distinctive setting for old vines and wines associated with concentration, texture and a saline impression.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve at approximately 10–12°C in a Riesling or universal white-wine glass. Taste on opening and allow some air if the smoky aromas initially dominate. Revisit the pairings that suited the 2023, including grilled white fish, shellfish, herb-roasted poultry and creamy vegetable dishes. The 2025’s texture also suits scallops with beurre blanc, mushroom risotto or roast chicken with a light cream sauce. Enjoy now with food or cellar well-stored bottles toward the producer’s suggested horizon of 2039.