Saar Energy – Lauer’s Barrel X Returns
There are few wines as effortlessly expressive and joyfully drinkable year in and out as Peter Lauer’s ‘Barrel X’. It’s the kind of bottle that reminds you just how thrilling German Riesling can be when it's in the right hands. Florian Lauer’s hands are among the best in the Saar. Often considered Lauer’s “introductory” wine, Barrel X is anything but basic. It’s sourced from estate holdings around the village of Ayl, including parcels in Grand Cru sites that don’t make it into the single-vineyard bottlings. That means old vines, steep slopes, and slate-rich soils; all the elements that make the Saar such a singular place for Riesling. The 2024 vintage of Barrel X is electric. A vintage characterized by challenges of early bud break followed by frost, the smaller crop was nevertheless quite concentrated and of very high quality. Off-dry in style, Barrel X balances mouthwatering acidity with just the right touch of residual sugar, making it both refreshing and surprisingly versatile at the table. Aromatically, it bursts with lime blossom, green apple, crushed slate, and a whisper of wild herbs. On the palate, it’s racy, precise, and feather-light, finishing with a lift that leaves you reaching for another glass before you’ve even set the bottle down. What makes Barrel X so beloved among sommeliers and Riesling obsessives is its combination of purity, energy, and sheer drinkability — it’s a wine that punches far above its price point while offering a crystal-clear view into the house style of one of Germany’s great producers. Whether you’re a longtime fan of German Riesling or just starting to explore, this is the bottle to have on hand. Bright, expressive, and endlessly food-friendly, Barrel X delivers serious pedigree without ever taking itself too seriously.
Importer Note:
“This is Lauer’s Platonic ideal of what a Saar Riesling should be. If we were in Burgundy this would be the equivalent of a Bourgogne Blanc. As an appellation-level wine, it is sourced from multiple vineyards in three different villages of the Saar. This is always a thrilling off-dry and a silly value.”
