1998 Dr Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Auslese Riesling

This is a beautifully sweet German riesling from a great producer and a fantastic vintage

The ungrafted vines from which we produce this great Riesling are up to 120 years old. They reside in a plot called “Urglück,” a steep site that rises steeply directly behind the village in the heart of the Würzgarten. The vines grow in red volcanic and slate soil that gives the wine aromas of spice along with tropical fruits, such as pineapple and mango. The must is fermented spontaneously in a 1,000-liter barrel and sits on the full lees for twelve months.

AUSLESE Auslese means “selected from the harvest" and denotes super-ripe, late-harvested grapes that are selected cluster by cluster. Often made in a fruity style with residual sweetness, Auslese is considered by most winemakers to be their finest achievement, aside from the rare dessert wines. Top winemakers often make several Auslese from different selections based on botrytis levels. The ‘Goldkapsel’ designation on some of our Auslesen denotes this kind of extra-special selection.

Situated on Germany’s Mosel River among some of the world’s most treasured vineyards, the Dr. Loosen estate has been in the same family for more than 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 top-rated vineyards, he had the raw materials to create stunningly intense, world-class Rieslings. To achieve this, Ernst immediately changed the estate’s vineyard practices to dramatically reduce crop size. He stopped all chemical fertilization, preferring only moderate use of organic fertilizers and soil amendments. He extended his commitment to sustainable practices beyond the vineyards and into the winery, implementing improvements in materials recycling, energy efficiency and water conservation. At harvest, he insisted on fully mature fruit that had been very strictly selected. And he turned to gentler cellar practices that would allow the wine to develop its full potential with a minimum of technological meddling. Today, Dr. Loosen wines are widely enjoyed around the globe and continue to receive awards and accolades from top reviewers. Dr Loosen

James Halliday Collection Number(s): 2858, 2859, 2860.  Minor label stains. Slight capsule damage, seal is not affected.  10-15 mm ullage.