Clemens Busch Riesling vom blauen Schiefer Bio 2023 white

Clemens Busch Riesling vom blauen Schiefer Bio 2023 is a crystalline, slate-driven Mosel Riesling from one of the region’s most respected biodynamic pioneers. Sourced from steep, blue-slate vineyards along the Mosel, it delivers a feather-light body with serious depth and precision. This cuvée has become a benchmark for how vividly terroir and organic practices can shine in a classic German Riesling.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2023 vintage shows a pale lemon hue with green reflections, hinting at its youthful energy and freshness. The nose is initially discreet but unfolds with notes of white vineyard peach, pomelo, crunchy apple and a whisper of white currant, underpinned by cool herbal tones and a smoky, slatey minerality. On the palate, it is linear, taut and refreshingly dry, with a finely etched acidity that gives the wine a thrilling, mouth-watering drive. Citrus zest, stone fruit and delicate floral notes are layered over a distinct steely, stone-dust character, with a faint smokiness that is typical of blue-slate sites. Despite its light alcohol and airy texture, the wine has impressive grip and length, finishing surprisingly supple and polished after its long, stony, tangy finish. Enjoyable in its youth for its vibrancy, it will reward 5–8 years of careful cellaring as the fruit, herbs and mineral tones gain further complexity.

Production
The Riesling vom blauen Schiefer is sourced from steep, terraced vineyards around Pünderich in the Mosel, where blue slate dominates the soils and reflects warmth back to the vines, promoting slow, even ripening. Clemens Busch has long farmed these parcels organically and biodynamically, working by hand on the precipitous slopes, with selective harvesting to ensure only perfectly ripe and healthy grapes are picked. In the cellar, the fruit is gently pressed and fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts, often in stainless steel and large traditional foudres, allowing a slow, cool fermentation that preserves aromatic clarity while letting the distinct, smoky-slate minerality of the Mosel blue slate express itself without heavy intervention.

Food & Serving
This Riesling is a natural partner for delicately prepared seafood such as ceviche, sashimi, steamed mussels or grilled river fish, and it also pairs beautifully with lightly spiced Asian dishes, sushi, fresh goat cheese and crisp salads with citrus-based dressings. Its vivid acidity and mineral backbone cut through richer fare like pork belly, schnitzel or creamy poultry dishes without overwhelming them. Serve well chilled at around 8–10°C; a brief splash in a carafe or a few minutes in a larger glass helps the aromatics open up, but extended decanting is not necessary.

Producer
Weingut Clemens Busch, based in Pünderich on the Mosel, is widely regarded as one of Germany’s leading biodynamic estates and a true pioneer of terroir-driven Riesling. Clemens and Rita Busch were among the first in the region to fully embrace organic and later biodynamic farming, long before it became fashionable, and they have been instrumental in highlighting the differences between the Mosel’s various slate types in bottle. Their meticulous work on steep, old-vine parcels and their commitment to spontaneous fermentations and low intervention in the cellar have earned them a strong international following and consistently high critical acclaim, helping to redefine what Mosel Riesling can be at all quality levels.