Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Typically best enjoyed from 10 to 30+ years from the vintage release, as its intense sweetness and vibrant acidity allow it to develop complex petrol, honey, and dried fruit notes over decades.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Strong blue cheeses like Roquefort, spicy Sichuan or Thai cuisine, and fruit-based desserts like apple tart.
✨ wine.spec_sheet
Hailing from the Mosel's iconic, amphitheater-like cliffs, the Urziger Wurzgarten—or 'spice garden of Urzig'—is legendary for its striking red volcanic and slate soils, a geological anomaly in a region dominated by blue slate. This unique terroir imparts a famously exotic, spicy, and tropical character to the 100% Riesling grapes. Under the stewardship of Ernst Loosen, this Auslese is crafted from late-harvested, hand-selected clusters, often touched by noble rot. Fermented with native yeasts in traditional, large oak Fuder casks, the wine beautifully balances luscious sweetness with a vibrant, electric acidity. The folklore of the 'spice garden' comes alive in every glass, showcasing a centuries-old winemaking heritage defined by extreme steep-slope viticulture.
🍾 wine.about_producer
The historic Dr. Loosen estate, located in Bernkastel-Kues in the Mosel region of Germany, has been in the same family for over two centuries. Since taking ownership in 1988, Ernst Loosen has propelled the winery to international acclaim by focusing on the estate's extraordinary heritage of ungrafted, old Riesling vines—some over 120 years old—situated in historic grand cru sites such as Erdener Pr$lat, $rziger W$rzgarten, and Bernkasteler Lay. The winery's philosophy centers on minimalist winemaking and a deep respect for the region's diverse slate soils, which yield intensely mineral-driven, expressive wines. Dr. Loosen is globally renowned for its precise, elegant Rieslings, spanning from dry (Trocken) styles to exquisitely concentrated sweet expressions like Auslese, Beerenauslese, and rare Eisweins.