"1640" Riesling Tasting Case

The southwest-exposed core area in the main hill of the Trittenheim Apotheke is an extremely steep slope terraced with dry stone walls. It is a section that, due to the very steep topographical conditions, has been preserved in its original historical use pattern and is a relic of the former terraced landscape on the Mosel. On this striking rocky slope, Alexander Loersch harvests grapes with great physical effort from vines that still have no roots, some of which were planted in the rocky massif over a hundred years ago. The dry Grosse Gewächs from the Devon terraces shows only one element on the nose at the moment: slate, and that with convincing drama. Only after some time of aeration does a spicy herbal bouquet and a scent reminiscent of damp tobacco leaves rise from the glass. The first impression on the palate - lots of yeasty spice that goes hand in hand with a strikingly tart elegance. The powerful interplay of spice and minerality ends in a salty finish, an impression that is further enhanced by the finely integrated acidity. At the moment still untouchable, but will mature into a great wine! in statu nascendi !

What a precious golden juice that the grapes from hundred-year-old vines pour into our glasses here. The deep-rootedness of these ancient vines and the extremely barren, stony terroir of the Trittenheimer Apotheke have allowed the Riesling grapes to ripen perfectly, which you can smell and taste immediately. In the rising fragrance, the Old Vines show a lot of slate and rock. But ripe exotic fruit, acacia honey and a beguiling scent of wild thyme are also clearly perceptible on the nose. On the palate, slender and light-footed despite the clear golden sweetness. The grippy acidity structure is particularly stimulating, and its striking balance is certainly the most brilliant feature of this Spätlese. The typical, slightly salty-tasting slate aroma of the Trittenheimer Apotheke provides the perfect counterpoint to the fascinating and expansive fruit play of this grandiose Spätlese...Baby, this is Jesus Juice!

The Piesporter Goldtröpfchen vineyard benefited enormously from the weather conditions in the 2020 vintage. The Loersch winery also succeeded in vinifying an enormously powerful and extraordinary Kabinett from this particularly privileged Riesling site. Typically Loersch reductive, the fat "Sponti" literally sits on the wine glass; only with a little aeration do the aromas of ripe yellow fruits and a delicate hint of floral aromas emerge. At the very bottom of the glass, the fine spice from the slate sparkles. The palate is touched by a delicately fruity elixir, which literally discharges on the tongue with inner tension. The juicy tropical fruit unfolds without restraint, without giving up its playful lightness. The acidity shows itself with full power, but renounces any aggressiveness. The Kabinett shows itself as profound as the slate soil of the Goldtröpfchen itself. It is not the fruity sweetness, but rather this infinite depth in the glass that makes this Kabinett something very special. It is not without reason that Alexander's "Goldtröpfchen" was chosen as the winning wine at the Falstaff Kabinett Trophy 2021.

One of the most important and best-known steep vineyards on the Mosel is the Trittenheimer Apotheke. The Rieslings grown here are unmistakable in their delicate playfulness and their self-contained elegance. They are wines with a lot of inner density and a particularly characteristic slate minerality. The Apotheke is Alexander Loersch's home vineyard. Even as a little boy, Alex helped his father with the strenuous vineyard work in the steep slate terraces of the Apotheke. The fruity, playful Kabinett from the pharmacy is the calling card of the Loersch winery. The nose is clearly marked by spontaneous fermentation aromas and a powerful slate spiciness with a hint of citrusy exoticism and the animating tartness of orange zest. On the palate, there is a lot of breed, the acidity is ripe and very present. The finely fruity sweetness is playful and forms the perfect counterpoint to the grippy minerality. All in all, a wonderfully drinkable Kabinett that promises a great appetite for the next sip. Verry Nice, and 93 Points of Mosel Fine Wines, smile!

The off-dry Kabinett from the Dhroner Hofberg comes from vines that are over seventy years old, firmly rooted in the blue-grey slate of the Dhroner mountain and have seen many summers and winters come and go. The old gnarled vines produce only very small, but highly concentrated grapes. This is already evident in the beguiling stormy bouquet, which shows a wonderful smoky, stony wildness alongside lots of wild herbs. The fruit is almost drowned out and shows itself, if at all, only very quietly. On the palate, there is an ingenious interplay of fruity (very) delicate sweetness and a rough, unbridled astringency that makes the palate water. This is a great pleasure, because here you get a lot of character in the glass, the terroir of the Hofberg sticks to the glass almost like a slate fingerprint. A unique Mosel Riesling, far from the mainstream. A one-off - undisciplined and untamed - made extremely "exciting"! We love it!

The grapes for the Blauschiefer Riesling come from the Leiwener Klostergarten. The slate soil here, which shimmers bluish in the sunlight, gave its name to Alexander Loersch's entry-level Riesling. Even in the basic Riesling, Alexander's characteristic handwriting can be clearly tasted. Spontaneously fermented in stainless steel, the Blauschiefer Riesling shows a very elegant and very clear, finely fruity nose with a strong mineral undertone. Refreshingly juicy on the palate with lots of yellow fruit. The finely spicy yeast tones and the racy, vibrant play of the finely placed acidity give the Blauschiefer Riesling a captivating drinking flow and a very special mineral kick! "...the estate wines are some of finest money can buy in 2020" Mosel Fine Wines 89 Points