The Dr. Loosen estate has been in the same family for over 200 years. When Ernst Loosen (pronounced Low-zen) assumed ownership of the estate in 1988, he soon realized that with ungrafted vines averaging 60 years old, and vineyard sites rated according to his estate-specific classification and the more current Wine Atlas of Germany, he had the raw materials to create stunningly intense, world-class wines. Ernst reduced his crop size. He stopped all chemical fertilization, preferring only moderate use of organic ferti1izers. And, most importantly, he reached back to a gentler century for cellar practices that allow the wine to develop its full potential with a minimum of handling and technological meddling. With his modern world view and his traditional, old-fashioned approach to winemaking, Ernst strives to produce wines that unmistakably say Riesling, Mosel and Dr. Loosen.