Winery & Vintage Info
The DR Loosen winery has been run by Ernst F. Loosen since 1988. Great wines, he says, are the perfect expression of soil, climate and grape variety.
With the heritage of his ancestors – rooted, ancient vines in historic large locations of the Central Moselle – he has found exactly the material he needs to produce independent, complex wines of world-class level.
Today, Dr. Loosen is internationally regarded as the flagship of a rediscovered German Riesling culture.
The south-facing steep slopes and their proximity to the Moselle create a perfect microclimate for our Riesling. The southern slope guarantees sunlight from morning to evening; the steep slope allows the ground to be ideally heated by little shadow cast. In addition, during the day, the Moselle reflects the sun's rays into the vineyard, while at night it releases the stored heat, thus ensuring a balanced microclimate. A long growing season allows the grapes to mature slowly while preserving their refreshing acidity.
In 2023, our journey through the seasons began on a positive note, blessed with ample rainfall and the consequential moisture seeping into the soil. Following a notably cool spring, the awakening of buds graced us in the final week of April.
Grape varieties characterised by compact clusters, such as Pinot Gris or Riesling, bore the brunt of this climatic shift, prompting swift reactions from our team. The harvest, typically spanning about 5 weeks, was condensed into a succinct 2 ½-week period. Regrettably, the overall yield for the year suffered a 30% reduction, as a significant portion of grape material had to be meticulously sorted due to rot. In a silver lining, the must exhibited a robust supply of nutrients, facilitating a swift and uninterrupted fermentation process.
The autumn of 2023 will be remembered as a period marked by various challenges but also successful adaptations and hopeful outcomes in the history of winemaking. A vintage that, overall, can be considered a success!
