In the photo below I’m holding a 2011 “Senior” double-magnum (3.0L) – this is the spring/summer of 2013. This was one of the first vintages I imported and so far as I can remember, Florian Lauer just randomly offered me a few cases of large-format bottles – meaning magnums and double-magnums – and I said yes, absolutely.
In the years that followed, I was (am?) mostly too overwhelmed to plot or plan much – at least regarding large-format bottles. My second son was born in 2014 and I do have a few double-magnums from Lauer for that, though I can’t remember if we offered them widely or they were just for me?
In 2019 we did organize some large-format Lauer offerings, mostly centered on the bottle “Barrel X” as it was celebrating it’s 10th anniversary. Other than that, I don’t think we’ve offered any Lauer large-formats? There’s rarely enough wine, or time, to think about such things – and then, after bottling, the opportunity is past.
But I’ve been thinking about Florian a lot lately, especially as the 2025ers come to market. I remember first meeting Florian in 2007 and asking him when his first vintage was. It was 2005.
For some reason, 2005 has always stuck with me. It was a great vintage. I sold a lot of it back in the day. But more importantly, it marks for me something deeper, even if I can’t totally articulate what. Maybe it was around this time that my interest in German wine really deepened; maybe it was at this moment that I felt like German wine would somehow be an essential part of my life.
As the 2025ers begin to come to the market, we have something of a perfect storm. First, this vintage – by most accounts a ripe and excellent vintage, many compare it to 2015 – marks Florian Lauer’s 20th vintage. Second, it’s a plentiful vintage. Third – and this is no small detail – I’ve finally managed to discuss a limited run of large formats with Lauer before he begins to bottle.
And so we have something I don’t think we’ve ever done in the nearly fifteen-year-history of this small company: A Lauer big-bottle pre-offer, to celebrate 20 great vintages from our hero, Florian Lauer. All the large-format bottles will have some sort of commemorative “20th vintage” neck-label.
See the wines on offer below – obviously we can’t offer every bottle in large-format, so we’ve picked a few of our favorites. If you want a refresher on the wines, go to our Lauer grower page. The Lauer “Immersion Experience” is fun; if you want something a bit more concise and direct, you can take the Google Earth vineyard tour.
ORDER DEADLINE IS FRIDAY, APRIL 3RD! While “Barrel X” and the Kupp Kabinett No. 8 big bottles should make it to us this summer, the others may not be available until the fall – so please keep this in mind.
If you are in the industry or just a Lauer fanatic, email us at orders@vomboden.com and we will try and help you order or find these wines.
2025 Lauer Riesling “Barrel X” Feinherb 1.5L
2025 Lauer Riesling “Barrel X” Feinherb 3.0L
2025 Lauer Riesling Kupp Kabinett No. 8 1.5L
2025 Lauer Riesling Kupp Kabinett No. 8 3.0L
LIMITED!
2025 Lauer Riesling Unterstenberg No. 12 1.5L
2025 Lauer Riesling Unterstenberg No. 12 3.0L
LIMITED!
2025 Lauer Riesling Kern No. 9 1.5L
2025 Lauer Riesling Kern No. 9 3.0L
VERY LIMITED!
2025 Lauer Riesling Stirn No. 15 1.5L
2025 Lauer Riesling Stirn No. 15 3.0L