Hello friends, Ernie here. A few days ago we had a wine dinner at Club Qing, a private Kitchen in Hong Kong. Kennice, the owner, is a great friend of ours and the food is outstanding. Here we started in spring our exclusive Erdener Pràlat Club! Special thanks to Tommy Chan for these photos!
Last week we were honored to share with you that Wine & Spirits named Robert Weil—along with Dr. Loosen and C. von Schubert—to the Top 100 Wineries of 2012. The list recognizes wineries from around the world that have delivered the best overall performances in W&S tastings throughout the year.
Robert Weil winemaker Wilhelm Weil
We thought you’d like to know what Wine & Spirits says about Robert Weil wines. (Robert Weil is part of our “Friends of Ernst Loosen” portfolio.)
And if you’ll be in San Francisco on Oct. 17, please join us for the W&S Top 100 Tasting at City View at METREON, where we will be pouring the 2010 Gräfenberg BA and the 2010 Kiedrich Turmberg Riesling Trocken.
2010 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Spätlese
[94] Wine & Spirits
This is exceptionally sophisticated in the way it expresses its fruit on the palate, unfolding with graceful elegance and multi-dimensional complxity. While it’s opulent in its concentration of flavor, it also feels saturated by a dark, stony minerality, adding to the sense of detail and finesse.
2010 Kiedrich Gräfenberg Beerenauslese
[95] Wine & Spirits
While this is undeniably rich, it also demonstrates a marvelous detail, its velvety flavors of roasted peach and tropical fruits enlivened by a firm spine of acidity. It’s complex and palate staining in its intensity, yet for all its power, it’s most impressive for its elegance, refinement and poise.
Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese
[96] Wine & Spirits
The class of this site is on full display even at this level of must-weight. While powerfully concentrated with luscious flavors of yellow peach, mango and jackfruit, the wine carries them with astounding grace and poise, energized by vivid acidity and made more complex by insistent aromas of slate. This is almost daunting in its intensity, yet if feels exceptionally harmonious, expanding on the palate with gripping length.
Last week we were honored to share with you that Wine & Spirits named Dr. Loosen—along with Robert Weil and C. von Schubert—to the Top 100 Wineries of 2012. The list recognizes wineries from around the world that have delivered the best overall performances in W&S tastings throughout the year.
Please see below for a taste of what W&S has recently said about our wines.
And please join us on October 17th for their annual W&S Top 100 Tasting event at City View at METREON in San Francisco, where we will be pouring some of the top-scoring wines.
On the pouring “slate,” we’ll have Dr. Loosen 2010 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese (93 points). We’ll also show the 2010 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Trocken (dry) GG as a nice comparison between the dry style and the moderately sweet Spätlese from the same vineyard. Hope to see you there!
And now, the W&S comments on our wines:
2010 Erdener Treppchen Spätlese
[92] Wine & Spirits
Laser-like acidity keeps this focused and taut, encasing the concentrated aromas of apricot and tangerine in a tight grip. It feels fresh and clean, showing a high-toned, floral character typical of the site.
2010 Ürziger Würzgarten Spätlese
[92] Wine & Spirits
This shows the plush Loosen style as much as it does the concentrated, darkly mineral character of the site: Flowery and forward, its citrus and white peach flavors feel energized by racy acidity, demonstrating a fine balance and quiet tension.
2010 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spätlese
[93] Wine & Spirits
Fragrant notes of peach, tangerine and lemon zest are full bodied yet focused, given the sense of clarity and detail by the underlying acidity. It’s harmonious and energetic, and while it’s already appealing for its forward fruit and fine balance, it promises to develop more complexity and depth with age.
2010 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese
[93] Wine & Spirits
While this is opulently ripe, it’s focused by knife-like acidity, allowing the floral fruit flavors to expand with a marvelous clarity, tension and grace over undertones of slate. It feels seamless from beginning to end, finishing with long, fragrant length.
2010 Erdener Prälat Auslese Goldkapsel
[91] Wine & Spirits
Hints of candied ginger and floral honey back this wine’s succulent flavors of apricot, pear and citrus, feeling rich yet lively. It’s exceptionally well balanced for its weight, demonstrating clarity, dimension and finesse.
If you’re a Dr. Loosen fan, you may be interested to know that Ernst Loosen also makes wines under the J.L. Wolf label.
Founded in 1756, the J.L. Wolf estate was a very successful and highly regarded winery for more than two centuries. It entered an especially glamorous era with the construction of its Italianate estate house and villa in 1843. Ernst Loosen took over the vineyards in 1996.
In 1996, Ernie took over the historic J.L. Wolf estate so he could make traditionally crafted Rhine wines to complement the Dr. Loosen Rieslings he produces in the Mosel. In the classic style of the Pfalz region, J.L. Wolf wines are more full-bodied than Mosel wines, with higher alcohol and rich flavors of ripe fruit and stone.
The Pfalz region lies between the Haardt Mountains and the Rhine river, directly north of France’s Alsace region. As in Alsace, the mountains protect the area from harsh Atlantic weather, making it one of the warmer and drier areas of Germany. In this climate, achieving full ripeness is possible in nearly every vintage.
To preserve the naturally high quality of the vineyards, Ernie emphasizes sustainable viticulture, gentle handling during harvest and traditional winemaking techniques in the cellar. This enables him to produce pure, mineral-inflected wines that express the authentic terroir of the Pfalz.
J.L. Wolf: Estate-Grown Rieslings
J.L. Wolf uses an unofficial, Burgundy-style classification of its vineyards. Typically, two wines are made from each J.L. Wolf vineyard—one in the traditional dry (trocken) style and one in the fruity style, with residual sweetness. Only the fruity wines are labeled as Prädikat wines. In most vintages Wachenheimer Kabinett, Wachenheimer Belz Spätlese and Pechstein Auslese are produced.
Villa Wolf: Value-Priced Varietal Wines
Our newly updated label for Villa Wolf wines.
Villa Wolf label is a value-priced line of varietal wines that show the true character of each variety as it is grown in the warm and sunny Pfalz region. Villa Wolf wines re made from J.L. Wolf estate fruit supplemented with grapes from contracted growers. Varieties include Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Silvaner and Pinot Noir (red and rosé). Like the Dr. L from Dr. Loosen, these are excellent glass pour wines, as well as great values on the retail shelf.
Villa Wolf has been recognized as a “Value Brand of the Year” by both Wine & Spirits and Wine Enthusiast. Our Villa Wolf Rosé is a popular summer wine and a great value for backyard grilling, picnics and parties.
Learn more about JL Wolf and Villa Wolf wines at these sites.
Loosen Bros. USA
IT’S FOODIE FRIDAY!
In honor of Ernie Loosen’s recent weekend at Blackberry Farm with Chef Alan Wong, we’re featuring a recipe from Chef Wong’s cookbook “The Blue Tomato.”
We recommend pairing it with our Dr. Loosen Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Kabinett, which would work great with the lime and jalapeño, as well as the briny taste of the oysters themselves.
Another (drier) option would be our Dr. Loosen Red Slate Riesling. It depends on how much heat your jalapeño gives to the dish. Higher alcohol will make spicy heat even hotter, whereas the lower alcohol and slight sweetness of the Kabinett will cool and refresh. Your choice!
From The Blue Tomato Cookbook
(Read more about this wonderful cookbook.)
OYSTER SHAVED ICE WITH RED ONION-JALAPEÑO GRANITÉ
Makes 5 tasting portions
The Granité
1 cup (227 grams) fish stock (use store-bought or homemade; Chef Alan’s recipe can be found in The Blue Tomato)
½ cup (57 grams) sliced red onion
¼ cup (52 grams) freshly squeezed lime juice
2 tablespoons (17 grams) minced red jalapeño pepper
1 teaspoon (3 grams) Kosher salt
The Oysters
5 medium oysters, shucked
Garnish
Micro cilantro or cilantro
Making the Granité
In a blender, combine the fish stock, red onion, lime juice, jalapeño and kosher salt. Purée until smooth. Pour the mixture into a shallow container and freeze. When it is frozen, use a spoon to scrape the surface and form the granité, a granular ice.
To Plate
Spoon the granité into a rectangular mold (5¾” x 1½” x 1”). Unmold the granité onto a rectangular serving plate and place the shucked oysters on top. Garnish with baby cilantro.
Guest chef Alan Wong with Ernie and Blackberry Farm’s executive chef Joseph Lenn.
Love this fun pic of Ernie and pals when he poured at Total Wine Stores in Seattle last week. More than 200 people attended!
It’s Summer of Riesling! Let’s change up the tune! Or, actually, the lyrics…
Check out these great new Riesling lyrics to “The Wasp” (Texas Radio and the Big Beat) from The Doors’ L.A. Woman album.
Written by our talented and just generally awesome East Coast Sales Manager, Ian Dick. Who wants to see our team record this? Rock on, Acidhounds!
I want to tell you about the Mosel Riesling and the steep slate
Comes out of the Devonian seabeds
Blue and Red, with gobs of acidity
With a balance, pinpoint and hard to master
Some call it Himmelreich in its Lagen
Others, spicy, sundialed and Layed.
I love the berries I have picked in this straw basket
We have constructed presshouses in honor of your juicing
This is the land where Ausonius wrote.
The pickers in the vineyard, basketed and knived
They are saying: “Forget the Kab,
Let us pick the Edelfäule
Out here in the vineyard, there is no clean fruit
Out here we is botrytis-cinerea.”
Listen to this and I’ll tell you ‘bout the Riesling
Tell you ‘bout the Riesling and the loss of God
I’ll tell you about the freezing night
The meager drops of frozen wine
I’ll tell you about the the wine with piercing terroir!
I’ll tell you this
No pH of 5.1 will forgive us now for 80 grams of RS.
I’ll tell you about the Mosel Riesling and the Steep Slate
Mineral driven, slow and mad, like some new language.
Now listen to this and I’ll tell you ‘bout the Riesling
Tell you ‘bout the Mosel Riesling vine
I’ll tell you ‘bout the freezing night
The meager drops of frozen wine
Tell you ‘bout the wine with piercing terroir!
For the past several months we’ve been doing a “Love it With Loosen” pairing suggestion each Friday. Starting this week, we’re going to include those suggestions here on the blog as well. Enjoy!
This week’s “Love it with Loosen” is actually a “Wow with Wolf.” Expertly prepared and beautifully photographed by Daniel Prince, this recipe rocked the table at a recent picnic where the attendees fell upon it like jackals. All agreed it was a perfect pairing with our Villa Wolf Rosé.
Curry leaf chicken recipe is from Zak Pelaccio’s amazing “Eat With Your Hands” cookbook.
About our Villa Wolf Pinot Noir Rosé
The Pfalz is a very warm and sunny region, often called “the Tuscany of Germany,” so all of the Pinot varieties do well here. The Villa Wolf Pinot Noir Rosé is a true rosé, made with a brief maceration before pressing to extract color. It is light and refreshing, with deliciously bright berry and fruit flavors and a clean, zippy finish. It’s perfect for your summer picnic basket! learn more about this wine.
Ready to rock Wine Riot San Francisco with us?
August 3-4
The Concourse Exhibition Center
Opening Night Friday, August 3 from 7-11 pm
Riot 1 Saturday August 4 from 1-5 pm
Riot 2 Saturday August 4 from 7-11 pm
THE DEAL with WINE RIOT (from the Wine Riot website)
Wine Riot is your all access pass to hundreds of new wines. With two parts education and one part revolution, Wine Riot has reinvented “wine tasting” for the thirsty and curious. Grab a glass and hit the floor — it’s you unleashed against 250 wines from across the globe. Travel the world of wine all under one roof and tackle things you’ve never tried before.
We’ve rallied up a team of die-hard experts to bring you the brain juice: interactive booths and crash courses loaded with tips and tricks for conquering the wine world. Fueling your night of conquest is a tireless DJ, photo booth, temporary tattoos, and a few thousand of your closest friends. The best part is, we made an app that tracks your favorite wines and shows you where to buy them later, arming you with all the tools needed for total wine domination.
RIESLING (AND MORE) AT THE RIOT
Join our feisty National Sales Manager, Brian “The Harlanator” Harlan for a free crash course on “The Mighty Reign of Riesling.”
And be sure to stop by our tasting table and try fabulous Riesing, Pinot Noir, Silvaner, Gewürztraminer, Rosé and Pinot Gris from Dr. Loosen, Villa Wolf, and J. Christopher wineries.
Hope to see you there!
Join our East Coast Sales Manager, Ian Dick, in NYC aboard the wildest Riesling event of the year!
The 31 Days of German Riesling takes over the Summer of Riesling 2012 as we embark on our second-annual 3-hour cruise around New York Harbor.
This year, we will ride the high seas in style aboard The Jewel, with 300 of our closest friends, leaving from the Marina at 23rd Street at 8pm, with boarding commencing at 7:30pm.
Our night will begin with opening act DEAD EXES to get our heart rates pumping and the dance floor bumping, before we move on to our headlining talent, LEZ ZEPPELIN, a four-piece, all-female tribute band to the gods of rock n’ roll.
And that’s not all…
Annika Strebel, this year’s German Wine Queen
Of course, as befits a Riesling celebration, there will be a boatload of Riesling for you to savor throughout the evening…all included in your admission charge. Food, familiar to any Terroirist, also will be available for a price.
We look forward to sailing, dancing, and drinking all of the grape juice with you!