Clemens Busch, Marienburg GL Raffes Riesling, 2018

"From predominantly ungrafted vines that are up to 70+ years old and on gray slate, the Pündericher 2018 Marienburg Riesling Raffes did not ferment to fully dry but still reached 13.5% alcohol. Pure, fine and ripe on the flinty and elegant nose, this is a full-bodied, rich and powerful yet finessed, quiet, pure and perfectly interwoven Raffes with a certain sweetness that will become better integrated during the years of bottle aging. Very sustainable finish. A great Riesling again from Clemens and Rita Busch!"

"The 2018er Marienburg Raffes, as it is referred to on the main part of the label, is a just off-dry wine (with 10 g/l of residual sugar) made from lateharvested fruit in a prime terraced part of the grey-slated Falkenlay sector of the Marienburg vineyard and was left on its gross lees for 15 months before being bottled (hence the late AP number). It offers a beautiful nose made of cassis, grapefruit zest, raspberry, whipped cream, white flowers, a hint of licorice, and fine smoky elements. The wine is smooth and creamy on the barely off-dry tasting palate and leaves a beautifully herbal feel of mirabelle, gooseberry, apricot blossom, and smoke in the long and lingering finish. A kick of zest and grapefruit puree adds cut to the after-taste of this absolutely beautiful deep expression of barely off-dry Riesling. 2025-2033."