2017 is another one of those perplexing, confusing, the-story-depends-on-the-
Well here’s one fact about the vintage at chez Lauer: 2017 takes the finesse of 2016 and adds a dash more ripeness and on average a full gram per liter more acidity in each wine.
Here’s another fact: 2017 quantities are down a good amount, so…
I know it’s August and the last thing you want to do is go through an offer. But the vineyard puzzle at Lauer is fun and well explained here – and you like maps. You’re a wine dork.
Plus, all you have to do is order the wine now, go back to the beach and the wine will come in October (most likely) when you will want it. And when most of it will be sold out.
Please note: ALL PRICES BELOW are RETAIL ESTIMATES. If you are a retailer or a restaurateur, give us or one of our distributors a shout. If you are just looking for some of these to purchase for yourself, drop us a line at orders@vomboden.com and we’ll help you find some bottles. All wines are set to arrive October/November 2018.
Appellation
2017 Lauer “Barrel X” Off Dry ~ $22
The greatest “Barrel X” ever? Maybe. When I was there in June it was STILL ON THE FINE LEES because the acids were so powerful. That said, the wine also has a bit more natural RS than normal (about 19 grams). This is just next level, explosive. Barrel X is the legend; it’s Lauer‘s platonic ideal of what a delicately off-dry SAAR Riesling should be.
Village
2017 Lauer “Senior” ~ $29
One of the greatest values in German white wine, period. This is declassified grand-cru wine, sourced from a parcel of the Kupp with 70+ year old ungrafted vines. As with the “Barrel X,” this has more acid and a tad more RS than the 2016 version. This year it’s REALLY limited so please pre-order this.
2017 Lauer Fass 2 Extra Trocken ~ $30
German wine dork crack – searing citrus, herbs, leather, spice. Very limited – not much ever sees the U.S.
Grand Cru
2017 Lauer Unterstenberg ~ $40
Consult the map above or click here for fun. “Unterstenberg” is the site is at the bottom of the Kupp. It has fine slate with more water retention and thus a bit more vigorous growth. This is the most masculine and powerful of all the grand crus, yet in 2017 it’s pretty damn muscular. Less suave and more structured. As always, a profound mineral expression.
2017 Lauer Stirn ~ $45
Consult the map above or click here for fun. “Stirn,” meaning “forehead,” is the counterpoint to Unterstenberg. It is a site exactly 300 feet up, at the top of the Kupp. Everything changes up here – the site is blasted by the wind, very cold and with rocky soils. The vines struggle. The wine that is made here is tensile, soaring. It is high-toned with shavings of lime zest and a packed core of super-fine slate. The damn wine is angelic and for 2017 has an RS close to 40, which is silly given the wine tastes tart and soaring.
2017 Lauer Kern ~ $45
Consult the map above or click here for fun. “Kern” is named for the person who cleared this site in the early 20th century. You’ll note from the map that Kern extends from the top to the bottom of the vineyard, thus one has a wine that is very complete. It shows some of the power of the Unterstenberg with some of the tension of the Stirn. Worth noting that the 2017 Kern is maybe the greatest Lauer has ever done – this wine is AWESOME this vintage.
2017 Lauer Neuenberg ~ $56
Consult the map above or click here for fun. “Neuenberg” is one of the cherry parcels of the Kupp, tucked further into the valley than Stirn and Unsterstenberg. The wine tends to be perhaps the most exotic ofLauer‘s grand crus – there is a textural, glycerin quality to the wine that gives it incredible length. It is a monument to what Saar Riesling can be. Again, the 2017 version is exceptional.
Prädikats
2017 Lauer Kupp Kabinett Fass 8 ~ $35
The Prädikat wines are pre-selections from all over the Kupp. They flaunt Lauer‘s style – shocking saturation and vivid fruit countered by a slate-inflected whiplash of acidity. 2017 is a VERY good vintage for this style. Though it’s not Lauer‘s main focus, other than this dude named Egon, there is no one doing it better.
2017 Lauer Lambertskirch Kabinett ~ $38
“Lambertskirch” is a historic site along the Saar, near the Schonfels, that Lauer has recently cleared. The first vintage was in 2014. And while the vines are very young, the yields here are draconian and the wine has simply inconceivable density. A testament to the quality of the terroir that such young vines can bring forth such tensile balance and vivid stoniness.
2017 Lauer Kupp Spätlese Fass 7 ~ $41
The Prädikat wines are pre-selections from all over the Kupp. They flaunt Lauer‘s style – shocking saturation and vivid fruit countered by a slate-inflected whiplash of acidity.