Clemens Busch Winery - 'Vom roten Schiefer' Riesling 2023

ID:
• Origin: Mosel, Germany
• Appellation: Mosel Qualitätswein – (VDP.ORTSWEIN)
• Grape variety: 100% Riesling
• Alcohol content: 11.0%
• Style: Dry, juicy and crisp, peppery-spicy, pronounced slate-mineral
• Ageing potential: Now until 2031
• Rating: 92/100 Vinous

Riesling “vom roten Schiefer” 2023 is a characterful, terroir-driven Riesling that perfectly showcases what red slate can do: extra tension, spiciness, and a saline, stony grip.

The nose offers fresh citrus, ripe grapefruit, and subtle smokiness, with a spicy note reminiscent of white pepper and dried herbs. The palate is crystalline and energetic, with lively acidity, a taut structure, and a long, mineral-driven finish that invites another sip.

Vinification.
The grapes are harvested by hand and ferment spontaneously with natural yeasts. Due to the choice of minimal intervention, fermentation can take an exceptionally long time. Part of the cuvée ferments and/or ages in old large wooden vats (Fuder) and part in stainless steel, to preserve both texture and precision.

The domain.
Weingut Clemens Busch in Pünderich is one of the Mittelmosel's benchmarks and a pioneer of sustainable viticulture in the region. Clemens Busch already started on a radically different path in the vineyard in the mid-1970s: he stopped using herbicides early, switched to organic farming, and later evolved to biodynamic principles. Today, the focus is on living soils, biodiversity, and maximum resilience of the vines, with certification according to organic and biodynamic guidelines.

Their core holdings are in the spectacular Marienburg vineyard: extreme slopes, terraced work, and different types of slate (red, blue, and grey) each giving their own signature. Through extensive manual labor, late harvesting where necessary, and minimal intervention in the cellar, the wines have built a reputation for precision, texture, and pronounced terroir—both in dry and classic "fruity-style" Mosel.