2013 Dr Loosen Bernkasteler Lay Kabinett Riesling

Dr Loosen Bernkasteler Lay (pronounced LIE; an old dialect word for ‘slate’) Riesling Kabinett is grown around the Dr. Loosen estate house, directly along the Mosel, just outside the village of Bernkastel. As the name indicates, the soil is predominantly blue slate, but it is heavier and deeper than the soil in the neighbouring villages of Wehlen or Graach. This site has a gentler slope than the estate’s other vineyards. It produces richly textured, assertive wines. 2020 Dr Loosen Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Kabinett comes from vines with an average age of 60 years old, grown on blue Devonian slate. It’s farmed sustainably, according to strict German environmental regulations. Cool fermentation in a combination of stainless steel tanks and Fuder barrels, half fermented with natural yeasts, half with cultured yeasts.

James Halliday Collection Bottle Number(s):  3480, 3481, 3482, 3532

Kabinett has the lowest minimum ripeness level of the Prädikats, and is therefore typically the lightest and most delicate style an estate produces. The wines are gently sweet or fruity, demonstrating explosive juicy ripe green apple flavours and pear-nectar textures. They’re generally low in alcohol (7-10% ), soft, easy-drinking and food-friendly. The alcohol levels are low because the wines often contain a fair amount of unfermented (‘residual’ sugar) which serves to balance the searing acidity. There’ll typically be around 30 g/L of residual sugar and 8 g/L of acid. So although there’s a lot of sugar, the impression is fruity rather than sweet.

In a Kabinett trocken, the sugar has been fully fermented, like in an Australian dry Riesling. The alcohol will be higher and the wine will be more stony/steely.