Chinese food and Dr Loosen’s Riesling are a well-matched pair. Octopus with Jellyfish in Thai Sauce went down well with Dry Riesling Qualitatswein 2015. And Szechuan Hot and Sour Soup was perfect with the sweet Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese 2013.
Dry Riesling 2015 was a refreshing start to lunch
Something sweet will always soothe a palate tingling with the heat of chilli, so a Riesling Spatlese does the same for numbing effect of chilli pepper in a Szechuan hot and sour soup.
The occasion was a tasting of a range of Riesling from Dr Loosen estate at the Mutiara Palace in Petaling Jaya recently. This vineyard, along the Mosel River in Germany, has been in Dr Ernest Loosen’s family for the past 200 years.
The perfect match — Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese 2013 with Szechuan Hot & Sour Soup
When Dr Loosen took over the estate in 1988, he set to work on reducing crop size on those valuable ungrafted vines that had been around for the past 60 years. With moderate use of organic fertilisers (instead of chemical), soil amendments and gentler cellar practices that allow the wines to develop to their full potential. Besides, only fully matured fruit that has been strictly selected is harvested.
All these practices have brought accolades for Dr Loosen. Through him it has been said that the world is taking Riesling seriously again.
The Dry Riesling was crisp, fruity and zippy with a mineral edge, typical of the classic dry style of Mosel wines.
Spatlese is German for “late picked”, which accounts for the sweeter Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese 2013. It has a long and excellent aging potential. Certainly it goes well with hot and spicy food.
Steamed Giant Grouper with Beancurd Skin & Fungus was served with Blue Slate Riesling Kabinett 2015
Our main courses of Steamed Giant Grouper Fish with Beancurd Skin & Fungus, and Fried Chicken with Dried Chilli & Cashewnuts were served with the Blue Slate Riesling Kabinett 2015. Kabinett is the lightest, most delicate style of Riesling in Germany. The vines grow deep roots into the blue slate soil on the cliff. The wine is fruity, with peachy notes and lightly sweet.
Steamed Prawns with Egg White go well with Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Kabinett 2015
We compared this with the Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Kabinett 2015 which has more complexity and length. It was also drier. It was well paired with Fried Frog with Sliced Ginger and Steamed Prawns with Egg White.
The Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 2012 was poured for the Chilled Avocado with Aloe Vera . It’s a medium sweet wine, with aromas of peach and citrus.
These Dr Loosen Rieslings are distributed by Asiaeuro Wines & Spirits Sdn Bhd.