Riesling Marienburg Grosses Gewächs „Rothenpfad“ 2022

Wine Description for Riesling Marienburg Grosses Gewächs „Rothenpfad“ 2022 by Clemens Busch

Colour & Appearance

Luminous golden yellow with delicate green reflections – a visual promise of freshness and concentration in equal measure.

Nose

Initially mineral and stony with herbal spice, dried ginger, liquorice, privet and nettle. With air contact, a juicy fruit palette unfolds: red apple, vineyard peach and ripe pear. This complexity between stone, spice and fruit is typical of old vines on weathered red slate.

Palate

Here the Rothenpfad shows its true class: immense freshness with lime, kumquat and a fine bitter grapefruit note. The acidity is present, but perfectly integrated – precise as a scalpel, never aggressive. A fine tannin lends structure and grip, whilst a saline minerality grounds the wine and gives it depth.

Finish

Impressively long with bite and saline aftertaste. The wine continues to speak – a sure sign of great ageing potential.

Terroir & Origin

The vineyard site Rothenpfad lies above the railway viaduct opposite Pünderich in an extremely steep location without road access. The soft, weathered red slate decisively shapes the character of this wine. No mechanical compaction means ideal conditions for deep root growth – you can taste the undisturbed connection to the subsoil.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Riesling from vines at least 70 years old, trained in traditional single-stake method. Spontaneous fermentation in old Fuder barrel, followed by extended time on the lees. Clemens Busch works biodynamically and allows the wine time – the result is authenticity pure and simple.

Food Pairing Suggestions

The saline minerality and fine tannin make it an ideal companion for smoked salmon with caviar, chanterelle and pear gratin with Taleggio or veal cutlet with glazed beetroot. Generally, it harmonises beautifully with dishes that combine sweetness, saltiness and umami.

Special Characteristics

A true long-distance runner with enormous ageing potential. Fascinating now, this wine will be a genuine revelation in 5-10 years. A Grosses Gewächs that lives up to its name – precise, complex, vibrant.