Riesling, 1896

“Relaxed power” is how Christopher always describes the special 1896 cuvee, which though tastes dry, technically sits just above an official Trocken at 10-11g of residual sugar. With that comes a deeper and more structured sensation, with balm-like white and citrus fruits and powdery spices like coriander seed and fennel. Pithy, grippy but fresh the whole time, this is Loewen’s wine that represents a “vision of the past.” Grapes come from the oldest part in the Maximin Herrenberg (planted 1896) picked as one block, pressed by hand in traditional wooden basket press, and left to settle overnight. It ferments spontaneously on the full lees and is left to run to a natural stop. Production sits at one barrel a year.