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.
The Sundial vineyard in Wehlener is almost nothing but broken shards of blue Devonian slate. 100% Riesling from vines over 60 years old on average. Cool fermentation in a combination of stainless steel tanks and Fuder barrels, half fermented with natural yeasts, half with cultured yeasts.
''A revolutionary style of Mosel Kabinett! What an exciting herbal and spicy nose this has! Yes there’s plenty of white tree fruit character, but it is pushed into the background. As it aerates, aromas of hibiscus, blood orange and rosemary climb out of the glass. At once juicy and intensely herbal at the crisp finish.''