Dr Loosen Riesling Beerenauslese 375ml 2018

Dr Loosen has been in the same family for more than 200 years and its present guardian, Ernst Loosen, is one of the great characters of the wine world. He assumed ownership of the estate in 1988 and immediately realised 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, Erni dramatically reduced his crop size and ceased using chemical fertilisers, preferring only moderate use of organic fertilisers. And, most importantly, he turned to gentler cellar practices that allow the wine to develop to its full potential with a minimum of handling and technological meddling.

Beerenauslese ("berry select”) is a rich, honeyed dessert wine made from grapes that have been shriveled by botrytis, the "noble rot.” These extremely concentrated, mouldy grapes are painstakingly separated from the unaffected fruit and vinified to make one of Germany’s most prized vinous treasures. The legal minimum for BA must weight is 110° Oechsle, but at Dr. Loosen it usually starts with a minimum of 120° Oechsle. 

This Beerenauslese, exclusively from estate-owned vineyards, has a juicy mouthful of ripe fruits with a finish that is long and satisfying, but never heavy. It is perfect as an aperitif, with foie gras, or with light desserts featuring fresh fruits.