Riesling Birnbaum Reserve 2022

Wine description for Riesling Birnbaum Reserve Barrel 63 2022 by Clemens Busch

Character

The Birnbaum Reserve Barrel 63 exemplifies what places Clemens Busch among the absolute elite of the Mosel: wines that do not seek to impress, but rather to speak. With an alcohol content of merely 11.5% vol. and subtle residual sweetness, this Riesling embodies that lightness and precision which makes great Mosel wines timeless. No effect, no overwhelm – instead depth through silence.

Terroir & Origin

The Birnbaum is a single vineyard site at the heart of the Pündericher Marienburg complex, one of the Mosel’s most significant slate terroirs. Clemens Busch has managed his vineyard sites biodynamically for decades – the soil here is no mere backdrop, but the true protagonist. The blue Devonian slate stores warmth, imparts minerality and shapes that characteristic tension and spice which Mosel Riesling cannot be replicated by any other grape variety in the world. The 2022 vintage brought warmth and ripeness, yet on these exposed slate slopes, the acidity remains vibrant – a natural counterbalance.

Grape Variety & Vinification

On the Mosel, Riesling is not a choice, but a calling. Busch ferments his reserve wines traditionally in old wooden barrels – Barrel 63 is not a marketing term, but a concrete vessel with its own history and character. The slow, spontaneous maturation in wood lends the wine texture and complexity, without obscuring the varietal transparency. The result is a Riesling of great artisanal integrity – natural, unfiltered in its expression, precise in its provenance.

Food Pairing Recommendations

The fine balance of residual sweetness and vibrant acidity makes this Riesling a versatile table companion. It harmonises beautifully with grilled river fish, such as pike-perch on a bed of reeds or trout with almond butter. Equally recommended: Asian cuisine with subtle heat, Riesling soup with cream or a classic flammekuchen with crème fraîche and bacon. Those who drink it on its own need nothing more than a good glass.