Notes from the Winemaker:
Eiswein (“ice wine”) is another of nature’s rare and wonderful gifts in our area. We hold aside certain plots of vines, hoping for a deep enough freeze (minimum –8° C, or 17° F) to harvest frozen grapes. These grapes are picked in the wee hours of the morning and pressed while they are still frozen, to slowly squeeze out a few drops of precious nectar, leaving the water behind as ice. The result is a vibrant, racy dessert wine that is strikingly different from the rounder, more honeyed tyle of the wines concentrated by botrytis.
Key points:
• Authentic Mosel Riesling Eiswein from Ernst Loosen, one of Germany’s most celebrated winemakers.
• Dr. Loosen was named a “Winery of the Year” by Wine & Spirits magazine, Buying Guide 2007, 2008 & 2009.
• Very low alcohol (6.0%) for today’s healthier lifestyle.
93 Points - Wine Spectator MagazineVibrant and juicy, displaying flavors of ripe grapefruit, Anjou pear and apple tart. Finishes with notes of spice and golden raisin. Drink now through 2032. 55 cases made. –KM
90 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate"Loosen’s generic 2008 Riesling Eiswein prickles with radish and lemon peel on the nose as well as its very sweet, honeyed palate. So low in alcohol it is barely legally wine, this displays a striking sense of near-weightlessness and an impression of lemon meringue glazed with quince preserves that persists with accompanying sharp impingement that is undeniably invigorating if a tad unruly. I would plan on drinking this over the next 3-5 years. It offers an excellent introduction to a genre ordinarily unapproachably expensive for most wine lovers, and its strong sense of both sweetness and acidity should render it interesting for accompanying certain desserts." - David Schildknecht (Dec 2010)
94 Points, Rank #89 on Top 100 of 2010 & "Editor's Choice" - Wine Enthusiast Magazine (2007 vintage)"A relative bargain in the
stratospheric world of icewine, Loosen's 2007 boasts amazingly pure
fruit essences resembling candied pineapple, peach, fruit cocktail and
even some red-berry notes. It's plump in the mouth but not oversized,
with a long, mouthwatering finish." J.C. (4/1/2010)
94 Points -
Wine Spectator Magazine (2007 vintage)"A sweet-tart profile and searing
notes of lime, vanilla pastry and slate highlight this pure, racy white.
It's light in weight and really electric on the finish. Just lacks a
bit of harmony now to be classic. Best from 2012 through 2040." –BS
(2009)
90 Points -
Wine & Spirits Magazine (2007 vintage)"This is clear and cool, showing
lively green fruit flavors of pear, kiwi and guava. It feels more like a
BA than an Eiswein, but its excellent balance keeps it cleanly focused
through the long finish." –December 2009
