Riesling Marienburg Grosse Lage "Rothenpfad" Reserve 2020

A dry Riesling that draws its tension from the interplay of delicate fruit sweetness and refreshing acidity. It already drinks beautifully now, but is built for the long haul and will continue to develop over the coming years.

The "Rothenpfad" parcel lies above the railway viaduct opposite Pünderich and belongs to the Marienburg Grosse Lage, where Clemens Busch farms 11 of his 20 hectares of steep vineyards. The soil is very light and rests on soft, weathered red clay slate. This especially steep parcel has no road access, so machinery is out of the question. The soil is therefore never compacted, and the vines root under ideal conditions. The estate has worked without herbicides since 1976, and biodynamically since 1986.

Pure Riesling. For the Reserve bottling, Clemens Busch selects a cask of Grosses Gewächs quality. This wine spends at least 24 months on full lees in cask, is then racked off the lees and bottled unfiltered. 12.0% ABV.

Bright, sparkling golden yellow in the glass. On the nose, ripe oranges, lime and pineapple, joined by candied apricots, honey and fragrant blossom, underpinned by layered minerality and refreshing herbal notes, framed by pronounced slate spiciness. Charming on the palate, the delicate fruit sweetness plays against the fresh acidity, with neither ever gaining the upper hand.

Those opening this wine now should pair it with spicy dishes with sweet accents.

At Clemens Busch, the capsule color reveals the soil: red signals the rare red slate, which gives the Rieslings their smoky depth. In the cellar, 80 percent of the wines ferment spontaneously in centuries-old 1000-liter casks, without cultured yeasts, without enzymes, without fining.