Mosel, Germany. Bernkasteler Lay (pronounced LIE — an old dialect word for "slate") is situated between the Dr. Loosen estate house and the village of Bernkastel. As the name indicates, the soil is predominantly slate, but is heavier and deeper than in the neighboring villages of Wehlen and Graach. This site also has a slightly gentler slope than the estate’s other vineyards. It produces richly textured, assertive wines.
The Devonian slate of the Mosel valley comes in a range of colors because of differing mineral content. These differences, in conjunction with the various vineyard climates and soil compositions, give distinctive flavors to the wines.
