Riesling Nonnengarten VDP Erste Lage 2023

A dry Mosel Riesling that favors clarity over richness. At 11.5% ABV, it carries lemon zest, ripe yellow apple, and an herbal coolness that keep the wine taut and lively.

The grapes grow on the steep slopes around Pünderich on the Mosel, where Clemens Busch farms 20 hectares in the seventh generation. Slate defines everything: the estate's oldest vines root as deep as eight meters into the rock, reaching mineral layers that shallow-rooted vines never access. This depth was made possible by soil that has been farmed without herbicides since 1976; the estate has worked biodynamically since 1986. In hot, dry summers, this acts as a buffer.

100 percent Riesling. In the cellar, patience and restraint prevail: 80 percent of the wines ferment spontaneously in centuries-old 1,000-liter large oak casks, some of them from the workshop of Rita's father. No cultured yeasts, no enzymes, no fining, and some fermentations stretch on for over a year. Extended aging on the fine lees gives the wine texture and depth.

Juicy and finely structured, carried by lively acidity. The finish stays crystal clear and slaty, without sweetness, without weight.

With steamed river fish, scallops, and fine sashimi. Equally with pan-fried saltwater fish with lemon butter and moderately spiced Asian dishes.

A VDP.Erste Lage from hand-worked steep slopes, ungrafted vines, minimal sulfur use. Clemens Busch today works alongside his wife Rita and son Johannes.