Spätburgunder Sekt Brut Nature 2018

The Spätburgunder Sekt Brut Nature 2018 from Clemens Busch is a sparkling wine from the Mosel, bottled without dosage and shaped by more than 60 months of lees aging. It remains racy and lean, with a compact, forceful mid-palate that never feels austere, only focused.

The vines stand on the village side of Pünderich, not on the steep slopes of the Marienburg. The gentle slope faces southwest, and its grapes typically open the harvest at the estate. Clemens Busch has worked without herbicides since 1976, biodynamically since 1986, with Demeter certification since 2015.

Varietal Spätburgunder from the 2018 vintage. After more than 60 months on the lees, the first batch was disgorged in February 2025. Brut Nature here means: no dosage, 1.3 g/l residual sugar, 5.1 g/l acidity and 12.0% vol.

On the nose, stony and austere at first, then raspberry, sour cherry and rosehip, joined by sourdough bread crust, freshly chopped almonds, hazelnuts and green walnuts, as well as dried herbs, marjoram and oregano. On the palate, the fruit recedes and gives way to structure. The acidity is well integrated and carries the texture without pushing forward. The mousse builds briefly with a creamy touch, then merges with the overall structure. On the finish, red fruit returns: barberry, wild cherry, wild raspberry. Clear, cleansing and invigorating on the back end.

In the glass, a delicate salmon rosé with a reddish shimmer and a very fine, energetic perlage. The long lees aging gives this sparkling wine the substance it needs without dosage.