Peter Lauer No. 21 Ayl Premier Cru, Mosel, Germany

Soft golden light glimmers through the glass as smoky herbs and wild flowers drift into focus. 2024 Peter Lauer No. 21 Ayl Premier Cru Riesling is a crystalline expression of the Saar, brimming with delicate tension, salt-kissed minerality, and the elegant soul of a site newly elevated to VDP.Erste Lage. From 40-year-old vines on the sheltered slopes of the Ayler Scheidterberg, this dry Riesling weaves clarity, power, and airiness into a wine that thrills from the first sip.

Product Details:

• Varietal: Riesling
• ABV: 12.1%
• Farming Practices: Organic, without copper use; no herbicides or synthetic inputs; horse and cattle manure fertilization
• Winemaker/ Owner: Florian Lauer
• Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts; spontaneous fermentation in traditional wood casks with long lees contact and no fining agents or additives
• Aging: Aged on lees with bâtonnage; fermented and matured in a unique fass (cask) tied to the vineyard parcel

Sensory Description:

The wine opens with a quietly complex nose of juniper, dried herbs, white blossoms, and smoky slate, evolving with air into strawberry skin and salted caramel. On the palate, it is graceful and textural, airy yet layered, delivering herbal tea, lime zest, and stony grip through a long, dry finish. There’s a signature Saar purity here: brisk acidity, clarity of site, and an effortless sense of tension. A wine both contemplative and joyfully drinkable.

Winemaker's Background:

Weingut Peter Lauer, based in the village of Ayl, has produced Riesling across five generations, now led by Florian Lauer, one of Germany’s most celebrated interpreters of the Saar. Farming organically without the use of copper and vinifying exclusively with native yeasts, Lauer crafts wines that honor the unique expressions of each slope and soil. The estate’s signature is precision with soul, long fermentations, minimal handling, and deep connection between vineyard and cask. The No. 21 is drawn from the Ayler Scheidterberg, now officially recognized as VDP. Erste Lage, and captures the essence of the Saar’s newest Premier Cru with grace and intent.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve at 45–50°F in a medium Riesling glass to preserve freshness and bring out its floral and herbal complexity. Excellent with dishes like seared scallops, fennel-accented pork, trout with lemon and dill, or aged goat cheese. Pour 4–5 oz servings to allow the wine to evolve with air and temperature.

2024 Peter Lauer No. 21 Ayl Premier Cru is a vibrant, stony Saar Riesling with aromatic nuance, fine structure, and depth that lingers long after the glass is empty.