Dr Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett, Mosel

Dr Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett is a fruity riesling from the Mosel wine-growing region. It sits somewhere between a medium dry and medium sweet wine.

The Dr Loosen Estate has been in the same family for over 200 years. When Ernst Loosen (pronounced loh-zen) assumed ownership in 1988, he realized that with ungrafted vines averaging 60 years old in some of Germany’s best-rated vineyards, he had the raw materials to create stunningly intense, world-class wines. To achieve this, Ernst dramatically reduced his crop size and stopped all chemical fertilization, preferring only moderate use of organic fertilizers. And, most importantly, he turned to gentler cellar practices that allowed the wine to develop its full potential with minimal handling and technological meddling.

The Mosel’s steep, south-facing slopes and the proximity of the river create a perfect microclimate for Riesling. The vines get ideal exposure to the sun for excellent ripeness. Cool nights, even in the middle of summer maintain the racy acidity in the grapes that is essential for clean, crisp Riesling. The river reflects sunlight and holds heat to help ripen the fruit and protect the vines from freezing. The stony slate soil and numerous rocky outcroppings also hold the heat of the day and ensure full ripeness. Thin topsoil forces the vines to dig deep for nutrients producing intensely minerally and vibrant wines.

Urziger Wurzgarten Vineyard

Blazing red and insanely steep, the Dr Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten vineyard fills the picturesque amphitheatre formed by this dramatic bend in the river. Although its directly adjacent to the vineyards of Erden, it produces a completely different kind of wine, with exotic, spicy aromas and a mesmerizing earthiness. No other vineyard on the Mosel produces wines so bursting with tropical fruit flavours. The estate’s oldest vines are found here. The soils are red slate and red volcanic sandstone and the Riesling are ungrafted and have an average age of 60 years sold. Urziger Wurzgarten translates literally from German as “The Spice Garden Vineyard at Urzig”.

The Riesling grapes for this wine are harvested selectively by hand and then undergo cool fermentation in a combination of stainless steel tanks and traditional Fuder barrels; fermentation is stopped by chilling.