The Busch 2010 Pundericher Marienburg Riesling Auslese Gold Capsule (A.P. #16, just in case it and its “l(fā)ong” gold capsule sibling were to be confused) was picked right from the vine – across many days and parcels, primarily in Falkenlay and Fahrlay – without further press house sorting; and given that lack of further selection as well as the number of passes and parcels involved, he notes, the wine captures the complexity of multiple levels of over-ripeness and botrytization. High-toned aromas of peppermint, lavender, candied lemon and tangerine rinds tweak the nose; then combine with honey and sharp citrus on a sleek, glycerin-rich palate. Piquancy of citrus pips, herbal pungency, and penetrating citricity make for an invigoratingly persistent if edgily energetic finish. Not a wine of nuances, nooks, or crannies (despite the aforementioned layering), this brash yet rich statement should be worth attending to for a quarter century, during which it may well gain refinement and further complexity. In contrast with most of his Riesling-growing countrymen, Clemens Busch claims that despite the vicissitudes of vintage 2010 and a harvest that lasted through the third week in November his (as always organically-raised) fruit was largely botrytis-free and amounted to a volume only 20% below long-term norms. What’s more, he claims to have harvested scarcely any (save botrytized) grapes at more than a high but manageable 11 grams of acidity and with a good 50% of that being tartaric. Of course, for wines to undergo malo-lactic transformation is not in the least unusual at this address and that was the case once again this year. But virtually all of Busch’s wines had finished both primary and malo-lactic fermentation (in some cases simultaneously – which he prefers – in others sequentially) by June, which is early for his estate. (Exception: one of three Trockenbeerenauslesen was still fermenting and had only reached 3.5% alcohol when I visited in September.) Low sulfur elevage with long lees contact is also normal here, but Busch believes that was especially critical for quality in 2010, guaranteeing that the wines would not harden and that healthy lees would perform a fining and imperfection-healing role such as he claims was taken for granted by Mosel growers two or three generations ago. Careful canopy management, notes Busch, was also critical to 2010 success as a condition for being able to sufficiently postpone picking. This year’s as usual long line-up, incidentally, should not be permitted to deceive: while there are many residually sweet wines in this latest collection, they make up only around 20% by volume of the estate’s 2010 crop. Busch testifies that there is quite a scramble now among young Punderich growers to get a toehold in the Marienburg’s steep slopes that he has in the meantime gone a considerable way toward monopolizing. “The fact is,” he points out, “that at least in their father’s generation such growers’ families had ample opportunity to rescue and cherish these steep slate slopes, but often instead heeded the call of fashion and invested in Dornfelder on the flat side of the river.”Mosel Wine Merchant (various importers); tel. (413) 429-6176; dm@moselwinemerchant.com ; +49 (0) 6742 8980 50; also imported by Ewald Moseler Selections, Portland OR tel. 888 274 4312