Weingut Mönchhof Grand Lay Riesling Trocken 2023

20% of the grapes come from the staircase-steep amphitheatre shaped vineyards of Ürziger Würzgarten (Spice Garden). The volcanic rhyolitith soils are layered with red slate. Due to the southern exposure and the protective rocks, Ürziger Würzgarten is one of the warmer microclimates, producing opulent, aromatic, spicy Riesling with a typical zesty finish. However, the wine is dominated by characteristics typical of the Erdener Treppchen, located one kilometre downstream, where the terroir, microclimate, and wines are entirely different. Due to its western orientation, the slightly lesser gradient, and the lack of slate cliffs, Erdener Treppchen is cooler, which combined with the blue slate soil, produces more delicate wines with racy acidity. The wine is named after the large rock separating these two Grand Cru vineyards: the Grand Lay. The 40 to 50- year-old vines are grown on original European rootstocks and are VSP trained which allows easy canopy management. Summer leaf removal provides good air circulation and slows down photosynthesis resulting in a later harvest producing berries with less sugar, less alcohol and good aromatic maturity. Hand harvested.

The fruit was crushed, pressed and clarified by sedimentation and pumped into 2,000- litre stainless steel tanks where cold fermentation with selected yeasts lasted 25-30 days with minimal lees contact to preserve the freshness and zestiness. Aged for five months in stainless steel, with blending taking place four weeks prior to bottling.