No reserve price! Dr. Loosen - 2002 Erdener Prälat Riesling Auslese - Mosel VDP.Grosse Lage (Two Bottles - 750ml each) Winery: Weingut Dr. Loosen Vintage: 2002 Region: Mosel (Germany) Classification: VDP.Grosse Lage (Equivalent to Grand Cru) Prädikat: Auslese (Select Harvest - Sweet) Grape: 100% Riesling Fill Level: Excellent (Into Neck) Condition: Label/Capsule Excellent (See images) PROVENANCE: Exceptional - Directly from Winery to Cellar * This legendary duo was acquired directly from the Dr. Loosen winery and has been meticulously stored in the private OHMS Connoisseurs Choice temperature-controlled wine cellar since August 2005. This perfect provenance ensures optimal quality and aging potential. The Vineyard: Erdener Prälat The Erdener Prälat is a minuscule, south-facing, VDP.Grosse Lage vineyard on the Mosel known for its exceptional microclimate and unique red slate soil. This combination allows for maximum ripeness and concentration, yielding wines of unequaled power, complexity, and nobility. The winery's history and philosophy. Winery Profile: Weingut Dr. Loosen Winery: Weingut Dr. Loosen Owner: Ernst F. Loosen VDP Status: Member of the prestigious VDP (Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter) A Family Legacy and Winemaking Philosophy The Dr. Loosen estate has been owned by the same family for over 200 years. When Ernst F. Loosen took the helm in 1988, he immediately recognized the immense potential of the estate's heritage: old, ungrafted Riesling vines (some over 100 years old) planted in the Mosel's most highly-rated, original "Grand Cru" (VDP.Grosse Lage) vineyards. Ernst Loosen's philosophy is simple yet demanding: to produce intensely concentrated, world-class Rieslings that are the truest expression of the steep Mosel slate. * Vineyard Management: Dramatically restricts crop size, prohibits chemical fertilizers, and insists on very strict fruit selection. * Old Vines: The non-grafted old vines naturally produce low yields, resulting in exceptional flavor concentration and richness. * Cellar Practices: Employs a minimalist approach, using gentle handling, spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, and extended aging on the full lees in large, neutral oak casks (fuder) to build natural harmony and complexity. This uncompromising quest for quality has led to Ernst Loosen being named Decanter's "Man of the Year" in 2005, solidifying his position as a global figurehead for quality German Riesling.q The Vintage: 2002 The 2002 vintage in the Mosel is considered excellent for sweet Riesling. Warm, damp conditions encouraged the optimal development of Botrytis cinerea (Noble Rot), which concentrates the grapes' sugars and flavors. The wines are marked by rich concentration balanced by the Mosel's signature vibrant acidity, promising a very long life. Tasting Notes & Critical Acclaim * Profile: Fully mature sweet Riesling with a complex, evolving profile. Notes include dried apricot, honey, lime, mango, delicate spices, and developing hints of 'petrol' (TDN). The palate is luscious and balanced by perfect acidity. * Critical Score: 94 Points (Wine Spectator, initial tasting) / 91 Points (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate) * Current Condition: This wine is in a beautiful, complex drinking window, praised by current tasters for its superb texture and integrated balance. Drinking Window This Auslese has the structure and provenance to age for decades. Current Drinking Window: 2025 – 2045+