Dr. Loosen, Riesling Sekt Extra Dry, Mosel, Germany NV

Zesty green apple and crisp stone fruits are electrified by spine tingling acidity in this invigorating sekt. It’s fresh and primary in style, with just a hint of cookie crumbs that linger on the midpalate. Tiny, vigorous bubbles dissipate elegantly on the finish.

The Dr. Loosen estate has been in the same family for over 200 years. When Ernst Loosen assumed ownership in 1988, he realized that with ungrafted vines averaging 60 years old in some of Germany’s best-rated vineyards, he had the raw materials to create stunningly intense, world-class wines. To achieve this, Ernst dramatically restricts crop size, prohibits chemical fertilization, insists on very strict fruit selection, and employs gentle cellar practices that allow the wine to develop its full potential with a minimum of handling.

All of Dr. Loosen’s six major vineyards were designated as “Erste Lage” — equivalent to grand cru — in the 1868 Prussian classification of Mosel vineyards. Only wines from these top-rated sites are bottled with a single-vineyard designation. All others are labeled simply as estate wines.