Carsten Saalwächter Sylvaner St Laurentius 2022 white

Carsten Saalwächter Sylvaner St Laurentius 2022 marks the debut vintage from one of Rheinhessen’s most exciting young talents, working with some of the region’s most revered Sylvaner parcels. After the legendary “Sylvaner Pope” Michael Teschke retired, Saalwächter took over these top sites on the Laurenziberg near Gau-Algesheim and has given them a new voice. This is a finely crafted, terroir-driven white that combines depth, precision and a distinctly mineral character, all wrapped in Saalwächter’s signature, quietly confident style.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the St Laurentius 2022 shows a pale straw to light lemon hue, with a delicate green shimmer that hints at freshness and youth. The nose is immediately expressive yet refined, opening with cool orchard fruits—pear, yellow apple and quince—layered with white blossom, fresh herbs, and a fine, stony minerality. Subtle notes of fennel, crushed nutshell and a gentle smokiness speak clearly of its origin and large wooden cask élevage. On the palate, this is a focused, dry Sylvaner with impressive tension and clarity. The fruit is precise rather than opulent: crunchy pear, green plum and citrus peel are supported by a saline, almost chalky backbone. The texture is silky yet firm, with a delicate creaminess from long lees contact that never overwhelms the wine’s energetic acidity. The finish is long and linear, carried by spice, stone and a gentle, savory grip that invites another sip. Enjoyable now with aeration, it will gain further complexity and harmony over the next 4–7 years, developing more nutty, herbal and honeyed nuances while maintaining its structure.

Production
The grapes for St Laurentius come from premium Sylvaner parcels on the Laurenziberg near Gau-Algesheim, a gently sloping hillside that looks toward the Dünbach and over the picturesque Welzbach valley. Here, the combination of well-drained, limestone- and loess-rich soils with a moderating microclimate gives naturally low yields, concentrated fruit and a distinctive mineral line. Carsten harvests by hand, selecting only perfectly ripe, healthy bunches to preserve purity and tension in the must. As with all his Sylvaner wines, the 2022 St Laurentius was fermented spontaneously with native yeasts in large traditional wooden casks—in this vintage, just two 600-liter barrels—allowing a slow, controlled fermentation. The wine then remained for an extended period on its fine lees in these large barrels, gaining texture, depth and aromatic complexity, before being bottled with minimal intervention to express the site as clearly as possible.

Food & Serving
This is a food-loving Sylvaner that shines with finely prepared dishes rather than overpowering sauces. It pairs beautifully with freshwater fish (trout, zander, perch), simply grilled or gently poached, as well as shellfish, scallops and lightly seasoned crab. Classic German and Central European dishes—white asparagus with hollandaise, schnitzel with lemon, or herb-roasted poultry—also suit it perfectly, as do vegetable-led plates featuring fennel, celery root, leeks or mushrooms. Serve chilled but not too cold, ideally around 9–11 °C, to allow the aromatic and textural nuances to emerge. A short decant of 20–30 minutes, or generous swirling in the glass, helps the wine open up, particularly in its youth.

Producer
Carsten Saalwächter is part of a new generation redefining Rheinhessen’s image, moving it decisively toward precision, terroir expression and age-worthy wines. Based in Ingelheim, he has quickly earned a serious following for his focused, characterful whites and reds, crafted with a Burgundian sensibility and a deep respect for old vines and traditional methods. The takeover of Michael Teschke’s famed Sylvaner parcels on the Laurenziberg—once tended by the man affectionately known as the “Sylvaner Pope”—is both an honor and a responsibility, and positions Saalwächter as one of the key custodians of top-flight Sylvaner in Germany. His meticulous work in the vineyard, low-intervention cellar philosophy and limited production have made his wines some of the most sought-after in Rheinhessen, with critics and enthusiasts alike closely following each new release.

We deliver within 2 - 6 business days. You can choose whether it should be to a parcel shop or home delivery. Free delivery to both parcel shops and your front door. Our store partners primarily use GLS, DPD, UPS and DHL for deliveries. We cover deliveries to the majority of countries in Europe.