Clemens, the 5th of his name, along with wife Rita, are stalwarts of biodynamics and natural wine making, a rarity in the Mosel. Situated on the diving line between the middle and lower Mosel, they've single handedly regained recognition for their home vineyard, Marienberg.The Marienberg was collateral damage of German bureaucracy in 1971. It's 23 hectares were expanded to include 91 hectares and its reputation quickly faded. Clemens and Rita have spent a lifetime teasing out the once recognized parcels and applying their lost names. Red, grey and blue slate snake through the vineyard. Each bottle, besides being a single vineyard, is further divided by slate type with a corresponding capsule to indicate which color it was grown on.
What importer Bowler Wine has to say about this wine...
“Vom grauen Schiefer“ translates to “on the grey slate”. The grapes for this wine grow, as the name suggests, on the steep slopes of the Pündericher Marienburg, where grey slate is the predominant soil structure. The soil gives the Riesling its distinctive saline minerality and flavors reminiscent of white and yellow peaches. The grapes get handpicked at the end of October at about 85-90° Oechsle. They get pressed very gently and will ferment spontaneously in old “Fuder” barrels. In the cool cellar, fermentation often lasts until summer. After around 10 to 11 months on the lees in the barrel the wines get bottled with minimal sulfur.
Details
-
Grape Variety
-
Vintage
2023
-
Size
750ml
-
Farming Practice
Biodynamic
-
Sweetness
Dry
-
Body
Light Bodied
German Wines
Is there a better grape than Riesling? Is there a better value? Its fruit purity, its perfume, and its mineral nuance are all unparalleled. And for centuries, the top German Rieslings were priced accordingly: at least as expensive as the top red wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy. But nowadays you could spend a lifetime exploring Germany’s great Riesling-producing regions while staying well within your budget. You might take an occasional break to try Germany’s other white grapes or perhaps a glass of Spätburgunder (the local name for Pinot Noir). It’s time to get started!
