Peter Lauer 'Schonfels' Fass 111 Riesling Kabinett, Mosel, Germany

The 2023 Peter Lauer ‘Schonfels’ Fass 11 Riesling Kabinett is a monumental expression of one of the Saar’s most dramatic and challenging vineyard sites. From near-vertical slate slopes that drop precipitously into the valley below, Florian Lauer crafts a Riesling that is as uncompromising as the terroir itself, powerful, structured, and deeply mineral.

Product Details:

• Classification: Still White, Grosses Gewächs (GG), Kabinett-style Riesling
• Varietal: 100% Riesling (ungrafted, 100+ year-old vines)
• Vineyard: Schonfels (part of the Ayler Kupp) – steep south-east facing slope terminating in a sheer rock face
• Farming: Extremely low yields due to vine age and dangerous terrain; manual harvest with harnesses for safety
• Fermentation: Spontaneous fermentation, stainless steel, bone dry (<3 g/L residual sugar)
• Alcohol by Volume: 12.5%
• Winemaker/ Owner: Florian Lauer
• Production Notes: One of three Peter Lauer Grosses Gewächs bottlings (with Feils and Kupp); Fass 11 denotes its cask origin

Sensory Description:

The wine opens with a taut, slightly reductive nose from its natural fermentation, quickly giving way to aromas of elderflower, gooseberry, aniseed, and smoky slate. On the palate, it is razor-sharp and uncompromising, with a backbone of firm acidity and stony minerality underscored by subtle notes of citrus peel, green herbs, and saline depth. Creamy texture emerges with air, balancing the wine’s steel-edged precision. The finish is long, spicy, and fiercely mineral, leaving behind a profound impression of slate and sea spray.

Winemaker's Background:

Florian Lauer is widely regarded as one of Germany’s most visionary winemakers, and his work in the Schonfels vineyard is legendary. Abandoned in the 1980s due to the sheer cost and danger of farming its extreme slopes, Schonfels was painstakingly rehabilitated by Florian in the late 2000s. With century-old ungrafted vines clinging to slate terraces, the site demands harnessed workers and enormous labor, yet rewards with some of the Saar’s most powerful, age-worthy Rieslings. Lauer’s decision to reclaim this site was as daring as it was brilliant, and the resulting wines have secured a cult reputation.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve at 10–12 °C in a Riesling or universal white wine glass. While approachable now with an extended decant (24–48 hours is not excessive), this wine is best cellared for several years to allow its structure to harmonize and its aromatics to fully blossom. When mature, it will shine alongside refined dishes such as poached white fish, veal with light cream sauces, or goat cheese with herbs.

The 2023 Peter Lauer ‘Schonfels’ Fass 11 Riesling Kabinett is not just a wine; it is a triumph over one of Germany’s most daunting terroirs. With time, it will evolve into a benchmark of the Saar, combining Florian Lauer’s precision with the vineyard’s raw, slate-driven power.