Schloss Lieser - Riesling Trocken SL 2023

Schloss Lieser is known as one of the most striking buildings in the Middle Mosel. This beautiful Neo-Renaissance castle was built in 1875 for petroleum magnate Eduard Puricelli on a former church site. Clemens Freiherr von Schorlemer-Lieser, a German politician and Prussian Minister of Agriculture, married Puricelli’s daughter and sole heiress Maria Puricelli and took up residence in the Schloss in 1880. Since then, the Schloss Lieser has passed through a number of different hands and has remained a political center even in the years after Maria and Clemens moved in. It is truly a building that is rich in history.

From 1904, Schloss Lieser served as the principal cellar and press house for Freiherr von Schorlemer’s prestigious and far-flung hundred acres of Mosel and Saar vineyards, most of which were shed in the 1970s when the estate changed hands and slid into a long decline. Thomas and Ute Haag took up the position of Head Winemaker and Director of the estate in 1992. At this time the estate was just six hectares, located almost entirely in the Grosse Lage (Grand Cru) Lieser Niederberg Helden. After working at the winery for five years, by which time they had already restored much of the estate’s reputation, Thomas and Ute were able to purchase the property in 1997 and began making immediate investments in the cellar and vineyards. “This was a slow process,” said Thomas. Each year, rather than taking the profit out of the winery, the Haag’s reinvested and started purchasing other Grand Cru vineyards in the Mosel. Early on, they purchased a small parcel of Graacher Himmelreich, but it was not until the latter part of the 1990s that they started to truly expand the domaine. In 2002, the Haag’s purchased first parcels in the Brauneburger Juffer and Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr, expanding their holdings to four Grosse Lagen or Grand Crus.

Thomas is of the Weingut Fritz Haag family and his father Wilhelm took over that estate from his father in 1957 and retired in 2004. As the eldest son, Thomas was expected to take over the family domaine. “As we had already begun here at Lieser and had worked very hard on this project, we decided to stay,” says Thomas. His brother Oliver took over the family domaine in 2005 and continues to run the outstanding Weingut Fritz Haag today. From the time that Thomas announced that he would stay and develop Schloss Lieser, the estate would enter a period of intense investment and growth, adding more Grand Cru sites to their already impressive holdings. Thomas and Ute added Wehlener Sonnenuhr in 2014, Piesporter Goldtröpfchen in 2016, and Graacher Domprobst in 2018. In 2016, the family signed a nine-year lease for parcels in the famed Bernkastler Doktor. Today they own 25 hectares of eight Grosse Lagen (Grand Crus) spread over 185 different plots.

Fermented and aged in stainless steel containers.

"Sleek, crisp and light-bodied, but with ample substance and lively acidity, this is an excellent introduction to dry Mosel riesling. A bold, zesty, lemony finish with good herbal freshness. Just 11% alcohol. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink now. Screw cap.” - 90 Points, James Suckling

"Shows juicy ripeness, with kumquat, lychee and apple blossoms filling out the palate, set against a wall of firm slate. Warm spice and chamomile notes add richness, with sharp, lime-edged acidity bringing classic Mosel raciness. Well-done. Drink now through 2028. 150 cases imported.” - 90 Points, Wine Spectator

Producer: Schloss Lieser

Country: Germany

Region: Mosel

Varietal: Riesling

Appellation: Mosel Saar Ruwer

Vintage: 2023

Size: 750ml