Winemaker's Notes

While everyone yanks the wheel to the right, doing ever-more dry wines, Lauer holds his own course, providing for us new treasures for our campaign: “Spätlese is the new Kabinett.” Some say Spätlese is the heart of the vintage; I’m not 100% sure but this is delicious, light and zingy and refreshing. Dinner Spätlese – not for dessert.

The 2023 Ayler Spätlese N°77, as it is referred to in the central part of the label, was made from clean but overripe fruit harvested at 87° Oechsle from vineyards on the different hills in Ayl and was fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar (70 g/l). This yellow-hay-colored wine offers a rather ostentatious and hugely appealing nose made of pineapple, coconut, rose water, whipped cream, and fine earthy spices. It is gorgeously engaging and racy on the palate, where the exotic side is joined by some fresh apricot. The finish is precise, engaging, and hugely long. This exotic expression of Spätlese is hugely appealing.