Laurentiuslay, Riesling, Alte Reben, Trocken, 2022

Laurentiuslay is the top site in the village of Leiwen, where the winery is situated. The soils are grey slate and hard stone and the Carl Loewen vines are an impressive 105 years old, fully ungrafted. Interestingly, the redistribution process which is common in German vineyards to maximise efficiency has never been done here, so their plots have always been hand worked with no adaptation to machinery. They remain single staked. Given their age and high density, yields here are incredibly low, yet the 2022 at no point feels over the top, as one might fear in a hot vintage. By pruning sensitively, the vines never go into shock nor bounce back fast; instead the grapes, once fermented, present the most soulful, fluid fruits with a fine and evident minerality. Juicy, sweet grapefruits intermingle with fresh orchard notes and a mouthwatering, delicate line of acidity. Fermented and aged in traditional German fuder on the fine lees, bottled in April before the weather warms.