Carl Loewen - Riesling Ritsch GG 2017

Carl Loewen - Riesling Ritsch GG 2017 (90+ TSW)

Weingut Carl Loewen was founded in 1803 and is managed by Karl Josef Loewen. His 25-year-old son Christopher now plays an increasingly important role in the family business. Like his father, he studied at Geisenheim Wine University and did an internship at "grand cru winery" Felton Road in New Zealand. Most of their vineyards are planted with old vines that are also purebred, ie not grafted on American rootstocks. This is possible thanks to the slate soils, in which the phylloxera grape aphid does not feel at home. The Weingut even has a Riesling vineyard dating back to 1896, making it the oldest in the world!

Due to the steep slopes, the grapes have to be picked by hand and the maintenance of the soil and vines is extra labor-intensive. Both in the vineyard and in the cellar, father and son Loewen try to intervene as little as possible. They do not use fertilizers, use as little pesticides as possible and the fermentation of the grapes happens spontaneously, with the natural yeasts of the grapes. The wines rest on their yeast sediment until just before bottling and are bottled as pure as possible.

My tasting notes:

In the glass a bright medium citrus yellow color.
On the medium(+) nose aromas of citrus, peach, pear and yellow apple with a swiff of petrol and spices.
On the palate dry (very little sweetness), medium bodied with high acidity and medium alcohol. On the palate mainly primary notes like apple, lemon, peach, honey and wet flint. Light oily texture. The finish has a medium(+) finish. Can age for a long time. Decant for pooring.