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 70 years of age, in some of Germany's best-rated vineyards, gave him the raw materials to create stunningly intense, world-class wines. To achieve this, he dramatically reduced his crop size and stopped all chemical fertilisation, preferring only moderate use of organic fertilisers. And, most importantly, he turned to gentler cellar practices that allow the wine to develop its full potential with a minimum of handling and technological meddling.

This dry Riesling is a limited-production “great growth” from a parcel of extremely old vines in Erdener Treppchen that lies directly above Erdener Prälat. The fruit comes from vines aged 100+ years, growing on red Devonian slate. Fermented with indigenous yeasts in traditional 1,000-litre Fuder casks; matured
on full lees for 12 months.

Tasted as a cask sample, the 2020 Erdener Treppchen GG Alte Reben promises a deep and concentrated, very complex and full-bodied wine with remarkable intensity. The wine is rich but refined and salty, well balanced and harmonious, revealing a long and intense, dense and sustainable finish. Tasted in Wiesbaden in August 2021. Date: Sept 2021; Rating: 93-95 Points; Stephan Reinhardt; Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

Extremely intense, anise nose with plenty of yeast, too. Excellent concentration and breathtaking raciness. Everything focused so tightly and that really lifts the energy level. Very exciting, diamond-bright finish. Date: July 2021; Rating: 95-96 Points; Stuart Pigott; James Suckling