Lauer’s 2009 Harvest Facts
Harvesters at Schonfels on the Saar. Photograph from Florian Lauer.
Florian Lauer of Weingut Peter Lauer had some additional 2009 harvest facts that I’ve translated below:
- Must weights mostly between 90° and under 100° Oechsle.
- Acidities pleasantly stable at higher ripeness levels (9.5 to 11.0 g/l); we don’t need to acidify, as in other wine regions (e.g., the Pfalz).
- Grapes very healthy; little botrytis, when then clean and dry.
- Ripe, dried raisins and berries, ideal for BA and TBA.
- Young vines inferior because of a lack of water in September.
- Old vines very good—since longer roots, enough water.
- Oct. 20 frost of minus 4.5 °C froze the leaves in less well-situated vineyards.
- “Saarfeilser” one of the only sites on the Saar that had green leaves, hence great ripeness.
- Early frost could result in a lack of reserves in the coming vintage, because vines assimilate nutrients from the leaves. Already one day after the frost, there were no more leaves on the vines this year.
- We’re not producing any Eiswein! I don’t like Eiswein and prefer a fine BA instead.
Tags: Florian Lauer, Peter Lauer, Saar