Clemens Busch, Marienburg GL Raffes Riesling, 2018

"Welcome to the dry riesling deep end! Super-intense and super-subtle citrus aromas are married to mind-blowing concentration and mineral freshness in this monumental dry Mosel riesling that's only just beginning to reveal its wet-stone treasures. Patience will be richly rewarded. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drinkable now, but best from 2023.."

"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."

"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!"

"-styled Riesling with concentration, finesse and lots of power but no alcoholic impression. The wine was bottled with 13% alcohol and almost nine grams of residual sugar"