Riesling Eiswein Blauschiefer
⏳ Drinking Window
2023 - 2050
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Fruit-based tarts and crumbles, artisanal blue cheeses, and rich savory terrines or pâtés.
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the steep, dramatic slopes of Germany's Mosel region, the Dr. Loosen Riesling Eiswein Blauschiefer is a testament to extreme winemaking. Eiswein, or ice wine, is a high-stakes gamble with nature. The grapes must be left on the vine into the freezing depths of winter, waiting for temperatures to plunge to at least -7 degrees Celsius. Harvested by hand in the freezing pre-dawn hours, these naturally frozen Riesling grapes are pressed immediately, yielding a tiny amount of highly concentrated, nectar-like juice while the water remains frozen as ice. The 'Blauschiefer' (blue slate) soils of the Mosel infuse this luscious dessert wine with a vibrant, electric vein of acidity and a distinctive smoky minerality, preventing the intense sweetness from becoming cloying. This style captures the pure, crystalline essence of Riesling, preserved by the frost.
🍾 About the Producer
The historic Dr. Loosen estate has been in the Loosen family for over two centuries, situated along the dramatic, slate-lined slopes of the Middle Mosel in Bernkastel-Kues, Germany. Since taking over management in 1988, Ernst Loosen has revitalized the winery by strictly focusing on low yields, meticulous vineyard stewardship, and minimal intervention in the cellar. The estate is blessed with extraordinarily old, ungrafted Riesling vines in legendary Grand Cru (Grosse Lage) vineyards such as Erdener Prälat, Wehlener Sonnenuhr, and Bernkasteler Lay. Dr. Loosen is globally celebrated for producing pure, expressive, and age-worthy Rieslings that range from vibrant dry bottlings to lusciously complex, mineral-laced Prädikat and dessert wines.
🍇 Grape Varieties
100% Riesling