| Region of production: | Mosel |
| Winery Location: | Bernkastel |
| Year Established: | N/A |
Vineyard Holdings
20 ha of 100% Riesling
many ungrafted vines – some over 120 years old
- Bernkasteler Lay: 2.2 ha; soil is blue slate
- Graacher Himmelreich: 3.7 ha; soil is blue slate
- Wehlener Sonnenuhr: 6.7 ha; soil is blue slate
- Erdener Treppchen: 3.4 ha, red slate soil
- Ürziger Würzgarten: 5.9 ha; red volcanic and slate soils
- Erdener Prälat: 0.6 ha; soil is red slate
Top Wines Produced
- Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Kabinett
- Graacher Himmelreich Rieslings: Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, GG
- Welhener Sonnenuhr Rieslings: Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, GG
- Erdener Treppchen Rieslings: Kabinett, Spätlese, Auslese, GG
- Ürziger Würzgarten Rieslings: Spätlese, Auslese, Alte Reben GG
- Erdener Prälat Rieslings: Auslese Goldkapsel, Alte Reben GG
Average Total Production
- 192,000 bottles
Summary
Although this property’s history stretches over the last two centuries, it’s currently defined by owner and winemaker Dr. Ernst Loosen (pronounced loh-zen), who took the reins in 1988. Dr. Loosen has transformed his eponymous estate into one of the most recognized estate in the Mosel. Having traveled extensively to survey wineries around the world before taking over, Loosen has taken a more global approach to running the estate. One of his first adjustments was to halt all chemical fertilization in the vineyards, and he also implemented sustainability programs in the winery.
The estate has been focused on sweet wines for the export market – until recently, only 2% of their exports have been dry wines. This is in the process of changing as Loosen has moved his focus to making complex dry wine with a “maximum (ABV) of 12.5%.”[1] New 1,000- and 3,000-liter oak barrels have been purchased for the Grosse Gewachs wines. His international interests led him to involvement in a number of different projects in the United States and Germany: the J.L. Wolf Estate in the Pfalz, a partnership with Chateau Ste. Michelle in Washington (Eroica, started in 1999) and a partnership with J. Christopher on Willamette’s Chehalem Mountain as of 2010. Loosen believes that great wines are, as he says on his website, “true to their roots and delicious to drink.” The estate has been a member of the VDP since 1992, and they make two wines each year for the VDP auction (Spätlese from old vines in Ürziger Würtzgarten and a botrytised Erdener Prälat Auslese Long Gold Capsule). Loosen lists only his six major vineyards on labels (those that were named in the 1868 Prussian Mosel Classification); all others are simply labeled “Estate Wine.”
Style & Vinification Techniques
Although the estate is not certified organic, they work mostly organically and do not use any chemical pest control or fertilizer. No botrytised grapes are allowed into the Kabinett, Spätlese or Auslese. Dr. Loosen’s focus is on showcasing the differences between each vineyard, producing very concentrated wines from very low yields.
Producer Website: Dr. Loosen
[1] Reinhardt, Stephan. The Finest Wines of Germany. Universtiy of California Press, c. 2012. Page 231.