Riesling (alter)native trocken 2022

Wine description for Riesling (alter)native dry 2022 by Clemens Busch

Colour & Appearance

Luminous straw yellow with green reflections – a visual harbinger of the freshness and vibrancy that characterise this wine.

Nose

Here the full complexity of a natural-style Riesling from the Mosel reveals itself. The 48-hour skin contact leaves distinct traces: candied ginger and honeydew melon meet lemongrass and fennel. The aromatic profile oscillates fascinatingly between exoticism and local nuances – pineapple alongside yellow apples, white peach alongside pear. The herbal spice recalls Far Eastern cuisines: mint, coriander and a vegetal touch of anise round off the multi-layered bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, the alternative vinification becomes even more pronounced. The wine builds remarkable pressure – taut, fine-meshed, focused. Despite moderate 11% alcohol and only 1.5 g/l residual sugar, it develops astonishing presence. The fine tannins from skin contact harmonise perfectly with the vibrant acidity of 6.5 g/l. The fruit shifts here towards stone fruit, accompanied by apple skins and those Southeast Asian herbal notes. Astringent, herbaceous, refreshing – a Riesling that deliberately forgoes softness and instead focuses on tension and texture.

Finish

Long, herbaceous and characterised by pleasant astringency. The herbal spice and apple skin notes linger sustainably, leaving a dry, appetite-stimulating impression.

Terroir & Origin

The grapes come from higher-altitude parcels of the legendary steep slopes of Pündericher Marienburg – one of the great vineyard sites of the Mosel. The cool climate and slate soils shape the racy structure of this wine.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Riesling, vinified as a natural-style wine: 48 hours skin contact, spontaneous fermentation in a 1000-litre wooden barrel, 14 months ageing on the lees. This method gives the wine its characteristic texture and complexity – Clemens Busch’s personal interpretation of a Mosel natural wine.

Food Pairing Recommendations

The herbal spice and texture predestine this wine for Asian cuisine: Vietnamese summer rolls with sweet and sour dip are perfect. It also harmonises beautifully with carrot soup with Earl Grey, cardamom and dill or chicory and Boskoop apple in green peppercorn cream. The astringency pairs excellently with slightly bitter and herbaceous vegetable flavours.

Special Features

With the 2021 vintage, Clemens Busch achieved a quality leap according to connoisseurs – this 2022 confirms that impressively. A bold, uncompromising Riesling that demonstrates that natural wine and Mosel elegance need not be contradictions.