2014 Marienburg Riesling Raffes GG
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Tasting notes
This is the most concentrated and forceful but also the best-balanced of the trio of single-vineyard 2014s that Busch bottled only late in 2015. As with the corresponding Felsterrasse, a bit of sweetness does lots of good, underscoring luscious ripeness of quince, mirabelle and pink grapefruit. The feel is glossy, glycerol-rich, yet not at all heavy, and piquancy of quinine, grapefruit rind and fruit pit are adeptly integrated, leading to an imposingly sustained, sumptuous finish that stimulates as well as soothes.
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Average Score
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
David Schildknecht, Vinous
More reviews and scores
From vines that are more than 70-years-old, Busch's 2014 Riesling Raffes comes from the best and driest plot in the Falkenlay, where he always picks healthy grapes (on the same day like the Felsterrasse). The 2014 ended up with 13.4% alcohol and 10.7 residual sugar (with a sugar free extract of 30.2 grams per liter); the wine opens very clear, intense and aromatic on the nose where slate flavors intermix with perfectly ripe pear aromas. Full-bodied, rich and very intense on the palate, with a dense texture of melting stones and minerals, this is highly elegant and complex Riesling that tastes like a noble Auslese but dry. This is a perfectly balanced (and piquant!) Riesling of extraordinary quality. The finish is endless, salty and stimulating. Although this is an expensive Riesling, it is worth each of the 100 U.S. Dollars. And it pays for a great experience.