Wine Advisor
Carl Loewen, 1896 Riesling 2024
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Anne Krebiehl MW
The 2024 Riesling 1896 was made according to historic principles, from ancient vines, without mechanization in the vineyard. It was hand-picked and carried on foot, only basket-pressed on the evening of picking and fermented in Fuder without sedimentation. It fermented spontaneously and was bottled unfiltered. Suppleness and concentration define the palate after a really shy nose hints at wet stone and lemon. The palate has beautiful depth. This is not an obvious wine now. It needs time to unfurl the secrets of the stone slowly. (Bone-dry)
About the Producer
Carl Loewen is one of Germany's premier traditional wine estates, situated in the Mosel region. Its history dates back to 1803 when the first barns in Maximiner Klosterlay were acquired. The same vineyards remain central to Loewen's production today. In 2008, the estate expanded with the acquisition of the Carl Schmitt-Wagner winery in Maximin Herrenberg. Notably, the estate boasts some of the oldest ungrafted Riesling vines, planted in 1896. Weingut Carl Loewen is a family-operated farm dedicated exclusively to Riesling. The estate is currently managed by Christopher Loewen, who is in his thirties, alongside his father Karl Josef, who is over 65, and one employee. Chris's wife also contributes while caring for their two young children. Despite his youth, Chris was awarded the Winemaker of the Year title in 2017 by renowned wine critic Stuart Pigott. In recent years, Loewen's wines have garnered high praise, with the 2015 vintage recognized as the Collection of the Year by Falstaff in its 2017 guide. The vineyards span a total of 17 hectares, located around the villages of Leiwen, Longuich, Detzemi, and Thörnich. Among them, the Maximin Herrenberg vineyard stands out, characterized by its steep slopes and divided into two sections—the upper, cooler part simply known as Herrenberg. Both sections feature iron-rich Devonian volcanic slate soil, contributing to the unique terroir of Loewen's wines.
