We consider Peter Lauer's Barrel X to be a true wine staple. We need to have a bottle of it in our fridges, just like we need to have flour in our pantries.

It starts, of course, with the grape. Riesling is an important component of any balanced diet, and Lauer's Barrel X is able to fill the need as an excellent and affordable option.

We think of Peter Lauer as representing the very best of what is the most exciting trend in the world of German wine. A new generation has been reclaiming German tradition, restoring old vineyard sites and returning to traditions like aging the wines in old wooden fuder. They have done so with new respect for nature, practicing organic agriculture and preferring minimal interventions in the winery.

Peter Lauer happens to be doing all these things in some of Germany’s best terroir, literally around the corner from where Egon Müller makes his Grand Crus. This is the Saar, where Riesling takes on a wispy, salty dimension that simultaneously enchants and refreshes.

The Barrel X lies at the bottom of Lauer’s range, but for many fans it is their favorite, as it delivers those refreshing Saar flavors in an uncomplicated, highly drinkable format. Dry-tasting (there is just enough residual sugar to balance out the natural acidity), it is, as Lauer's importer says, the "Platonic ideal of what a Saar Riesling should be”.

Peter Lauer Riesling Barrel X 2022 - $26.99