2016 Dr Loosen Erdener Pralat Reserve Riesling Grosses Gewachs

Dr Loosen is one of the most respected names in the Mosel, and has been in the same family for over 200 years. Current custodian Ernst Loosen works with some of the finest vineyards in the area, and since 2011 he has pushed the boundaries further in an attempt to better express three unique terroirs. Working with Wehlener Sonnenuhr (blue slate), Urziger Würzgarten (red volcanic soil), and Erdener Pralat (red slate), the Grosses Gewachs Reserve wines hail from the finest parcels of ungrafted vines in each vineyard. Fermentation occurs naturally as with the regular GG wines, however the wines are held on full lees for 24 months, before an additional 24 months in bottle. This additional maturation approach lends greater balance and a deeper degree of vineyard expression to these wines.

Erdener Prälat is perhaps the greatest vineyard in the Mosel region. It benefits from its 45° slope with perfect southern exposure, red slate soil and proximity to the river. All these factors, combined with its position below huge, heat-retaining cliffs, explain why Dr. Loosen never harvests anything less than Auslese ripeness from this site.

Other Reviews....
An extremely impressive wine with remarkable power and density for this cool, quite moist and rather underrated vintage. Ripe exotic fruit aromas mingle with notes of Thai basil and galgant. Breathtaking herbal freshness and wet stone minerality at the very crisp, long finish that’s deep and delicate. Drink or hold.
97 points
Stuart Pigott - jamessuckling.com

The 2016er Erdener Prälat Réserve Alte Reben, as it is referred to on the main label (the reference to GG is left for the back label), is made from very old un-grafted vines, and was fermented in oak with ambient yeasts and aged on its gross lees for 24 months before being bottled. This hayyellow- colored wine offers a still somewhat backward but already quite impressive nose made of a touch of underripe pineapple, elderflower, grapefruit, and smoky elements. While the nose is already hugely engaging, the wine is still slightly smooth at this stage on the palate but the complexity of the finish more than hints at the greatness packed in here at maturity. The aftertaste is simply splendid as it combines the subtly fieriness so typical of the Prälat with the typical delineated juiciness of grand dry Mosel wines. This is a classic in the making! Drink 2026-2041.
95 points
Jean Fisch & David Rayer - Mosel Fine Wines