Uhlen Blaufüsser Lay

Uhlen Blaufüsser Lay

Crystal glasses quietly vibrate
to an evening oceanside breeze

Name

Uhlen - it sounds a bit like the German word ‘Eule’, or owl. (Middle High German: "Uhl"). And we are indeed thrilled that the avian companion to Pallas Athenes has once again begun nesting on our land in recent years! (Together with the beautiful paranassius apollo viningensis butterfly, another of our favorites. Could it be that the Greeks somehow made the trek from Marseille to the Mosel and we didn’t know it? .)

 

Of Celtic origin, and thus significantly older, is the term “Lay.” It survived the Romans and the Franks and is a synonym for slate, especially in town and growing district names throughout the Mosel. Our vineyard is situated below the cliff head known as the “Blumslay.” A description based less on the lovely cliff flowers (“Blume” = “Flower”) and more in the attempt to convert the dialect expression ‘Bloos-Lay’ (Blue Lay) into High German. The slate is indeed blue-grey, giving a certain plausibility to the cadastral description “Unter der Blaufüßer Lay.” Although there is an alternative story: up until the late 19th century a large flock of rare osprey lived here. And they are known to have had fairly blue feet.

Facts

Geological definition: Devonian, with a “geological disruption” in the younger Laubach layers of blue-gray clayey slate. In all, we cultivate one parcel here, totaling 0.7 ha. Orientation: South by southwest, elevation 80 - 180 m, slope 100 to 170%, average age of vines: over 60 years, a significant portion ungrafted. Classification: VDP.GROSSE LAGE.  

The wine is exclusively vinified with wild yeasts in wooden barrels and absolutely no addition of enzymes or fining agents, and ages at least until summer of the year following harvest on the lees. The wine is produced dry and bears the designation of VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS.

Reviews

"Deep mineral aromas, spicy, with barely a hint of fruit, some pumice and salt. Notable yet well integrated acidity, and a nearly saline minerality. Lingering finish." M. Scheuermann ▄ "...incredible depth, an elegant and clear acidity and the sort of nearly baroque momentum that I so adore." Dirk Würtz ▄ "Challenging, mineral aromas and ripe peach, apricot and partially candied citrus fruits with cool minerality and herbal aromas. The palate is marked with a cool and stony minerality, a delicate, lively acidity, crystal clear peach, and tremendous herbal spice. It shows power and depth, a lingering aftertaste, and a long, challenging finish." wein-plus.

Wine> Uhlen Blaufüßer Lay

Uhlen Blaufüsser Lay

Crystal glasses quietly vibrate
to an evening oceanside breeze

Name

Uhlen - it sounds a bit like the German word ‘Eule’, or owl. (Middle High German: "Uhl"). And we are indeed thrilled that the avian companion to Pallas Athenes has once again begun nesting on our land in recent years! (Together with the beautiful paranassius apollo viningensis butterfly, another of our favorites. Could it be that the Greeks somehow made the trek from Marseille to the Mosel and we didn’t know it? .)

 

Of Celtic origin, and thus significantly older, is the term “Lay.” It survived the Romans and the Franks and is a synonym for slate, especially in town and growing district names throughout the Mosel. Our vineyard is situated below the cliff head known as the “Blumslay.” A description based less on the lovely cliff flowers (“Blume” = “Flower”) and more in the attempt to convert the dialect expression ‘Bloos-Lay’ (Blue Lay) into High German. The slate is indeed blue-grey, giving a certain plausibility to the cadastral description “Unter der Blaufüßer Lay.” Although there is an alternative story: up until the late 19th century a large flock of rare osprey lived here. And they are known to have had fairly blue feet.

Facts

Geological definition: Devonian, with a “geological disruption” in the younger Laubach layers of blue-gray clayey slate. In all, we cultivate one parcel here, totaling 0.7 ha. Orientation: South by southwest, elevation 80 - 180 m, slope 100 to 170%, average age of vines: over 60 years, a significant portion ungrafted. Classification: VDP.GROSSE LAGE.  

The wine is exclusively vinified with wild yeasts in wooden barrels and absolutely no addition of enzymes or fining agents, and ages at least until summer of the year following harvest on the lees. The wine is produced dry and bears the designation of VDP.GROSSES GEWÄCHS.

Reviews

"Deep mineral aromas, spicy, with barely a hint of fruit, some pumice and salt. Notable yet well integrated acidity, and a nearly saline minerality. Lingering finish." M. Scheuermann ▄ "...incredible depth, an elegant and clear acidity and the sort of nearly baroque momentum that I so adore." Dirk Würtz ▄ "Challenging, mineral aromas and ripe peach, apricot and partially candied citrus fruits with cool minerality and herbal aromas. The palate is marked with a cool and stony minerality, a delicate, lively acidity, crystal clear peach, and tremendous herbal spice. It shows power and depth, a lingering aftertaste, and a long, challenging finish." wein-plus.
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