Riesling Marienburg Grosse Lage “Raffes” 2020

Tasting Notes for Riesling Marienburg Grosse Lage “Raffes” 2020 by Clemens Busch

Colour & Appearance

In the glass, the wine presents an inviting, sparkling golden yellow.

Nose

Right from the first swirl, it reveals itself to be deep and immensely expressive. The nose unveils a complex interplay of Boskoop apple, juicy vineyard peach and apricot, underpinned by fresh lemon zest. Spicy accents of a flowering herb meadow, fine honey and delicate malty notes lend it additional power.

Palate

On the palate, an immense juiciness meets a perfectly balanced play of fruit sweetness and tangible, savoury tannin. Crafted in an off-dry style, it floods the mouth with impressive density. A noticeable salty minerality challenges the palate and gifts this Riesling masterpiece a fascinating depth.

Finish

The finish is extraordinarily long, complex and reverberates with mineral persistence. A finish that promises outstanding ageing potential for many years to come.

Terroir & Origin

Hails from the legendary Pündericher Marienburg in the Mosel valley. The soil is dominated by slate, where the vines root up to eight metres deep into the rock. Clemens Busch has consistently eschewed herbicides here since 1976.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Single-varietal Riesling from ancient, partially ungrafted vines. The grapes mature in the cellar with patient devotion: 80 percent of the fermentation takes place spontaneously in century-old, 1,000-litre wooden Fuder casks, followed by extended ageing on the fine lees.

Food Pairings

Pairs brilliantly with a gently spiced carrot soup with ginger and cream cheese dumplings. Equally impressive alongside grilled mackerel fillets with sweetcorn and cucumber or a refined fillet of veal with candied orange slices, pomegranate seeds and toasted pine nuts.

Particularities

The estate has been certified biodynamic since 1986 and has carried the Demeter seal since 2015. A masterpiece from steep Mosel slate slopes with an unmistakable, seismic expression of terroir.