Weingut Dr. Loosen has just announced that they have launched two Grosses Gewächs Riesling Reserve wines which are bringing back the true origins of dry Riesling in Germany. The release of these Grosses Gewächs Riesling Reserve culminates the over 25 years search to find the most precise expression of dry Riesling and its terroir. Ernst Loosen is convinced that his Dr. L Riesling brand has been instrumental in introducing a new generation to the Riesling grape, and that the time is right to show the wine world that a dry Riesling from Grosse Lagen (Grand Cru) vineyards can make its name among the best wines in the world. To separate these wines from his normal Grosses Gewächs wines, Ernst Loosen has added the term “Reserve” to highlight their extended barrel aging.
Ernst Loosen: “These Reserve Riesling are a unique approach to Grosses Gewächs wines, which are dry Riesling from the top Grosse Lagen (Grand Cru) vineyards. I am returning to the traditions of my great grandfather who produced exclusively dry Riesling from our best vineyards and aged them for 24 to 36 months in large oak Fuder barrels. I have always believed that dry German Riesling deserved the same respect internationally as sweet Riesling, which has not been the case up to now. With the Grosses Gewächs Riesling Reserve, I feel we are now at the level of excellence I have been striving for over the last 25 years.”
In order to make the Grosses Gewächs Riesling Reserve wines, Dr. Loosen looked for the most traditional way of making great dry Riesling. The use of Riesling grapes from Grosse Lagen parcels, fermentation using only indigenous yeasts and aging in large old oak Fuder barrels on the whole yeasts with no batonnage, has proven to be a winning combination. For the 2011 vintage released today, parcels of 100-year-old Riesling vines with original rootstocks from the “Ürziger Würzgarten” and “Erdener Prälat” vineyards were aged on their lees for 24 to 36 months in 1000 liter Fuder barrels. Due to the outstanding results, the 24-month method of aging has been expanded to another Grand Cru vineyard for the 2012 vintage, which will bring the total of Reserve Riesling to three for the 2012 vintage: Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Ürziger Würzgarten und Erdener Prälat. Dr. Loosen has also seen that a year of aging in bottle has given even more elegance and charm to the 2011 Grosses Gewächs Riesling Reserve wines; thus, in addition to the extended barrel aging the future Reserve Riesling will also be aged one year in bottle before release.
Watch the Video with Ernst Loosen
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