Dr Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese 2007

Dr Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese 2007 (Mosel, Germany)
$45 (375ml), Cork, 7.5%
Winery Website (and read the vineyard descriptor)

What is about about wine and red soil? It seems that all the best wines come off the red stuff, whether it be the chocolatey dark red Hunter loam that brought us the classic Hunter Burgundies or the red stuff in Wilyabrup that sits underneath Moss Wood, Gralyn & Woodlands. In Coonawarra, its even got its own special ‘terra rossa’ nomenclature. Here, again, its the red soil that brings us the glory (following in the footsteps of another German Riesling here).

Very pale, bright yellow in colour, with no spritzig, this has a classically beautiful nose – very floral & quite enthralling in its fragrance. Its almost Gewurtz like in its terpene spiciness, with overtones of apricot skin, lavender & some creamy peach. No obvious Botrytis. Every time I stick my nose back in, something else pops out. Brilliant.

The palate is actually quite rounded and full, the acidity woven into the palate with no visible seams – quite unlike the stony soil Mosel style which is lean, dry & acidic. The palate starts off with a smidgin of fairy floss RS sugar, then it leans up a bit before the fruit hits in a turbo like rush of very ripe & mouthfilling fruit. Its very rich & hedonistic, yet the serious Auslese sugar weight is hidden behind the ripeness of the fruit – indeed, it feels so generous that the dry finish is almost a surprise.

What a wonderous wine. Its classically flavoured, red soil Auslese in a quite round and very juicy style. Yummo. Sheer brilliance. 18.7