Yes, to be clear, I think the 25-40 demographic is where Vom Boden is likely to have had the most influence, but I think the influence goes beyond that demographic. I also don’t think the US millennial demo is shifting Keller prices at the auction—that is the DRC crowd at work, general trends in collectibles, etc. The increases in Lauer, yes.
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Ok… So, if the generation where Vom Boden and Robert may have had the most influence is not the one driving the prices at the VDP auction, then how is it that, because “Vom Boden and Robert have done a good job in creating an enthusiastic (but relatively small) group of German wine fans in the US… some of that interest translates to higher VDP auction results,” and yet other more established importers only influence “passionate older riesling drinkers” but those are not “that relevant to this discussion of recent VDP auction results and current German wine growth generally?”
I"m 44 this year and it will be the third year I"m using Vom Boden as an agent at the VDP auction. Still a small player having only bought 50 something bottles in the last three auctions (and 2018 I only really barely dipped my toe) but it’s easy to see how only a couple of new players could markedly move the prices of a wine. When you look at the RPR (rarity price ratio) VDP auction wines are still some of the best buys in the world. I would argue they can be for QPR as well.
as well, having a relatively young German cellar I’m not beholden to historical prices in the same way someone is that’s been buying these wines for decades. For me, the money spent on a memorable bottle of Champagne will buy me a more memorable bottle from the auction and I don’t really care too much if 10 years ago it was cheaper because everything was. Heck I used to only buy Selosse Initial if it was less than $175 and VO if it was less than $225!
I think most of us agree that there are multiple forces at work driving prices. Quantifying to what degree each of those is responsible for driving prices is not particularly a highly productive endeavour IMO
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I guess my challenge at the moment is the growing gap between non-auction and auction bottles. Just picked up a case of Schaefer GD Spätlese at around €30 a bottle and will really need to be convinced of the unique nature of the auction bottle to pay 5-7 times more in Trier.
The German home market is still very important to most producers (they were definitely happy with them in COVID time!) and buyers there are very price conscious and of course have the best selection available of anyone. That has helped to keep normal bottlings (with very few exceptions) priced highly attractively.
The buyer composition at the auction seems to have become much more international after online bidding was introduced a few years back, so I guess price developments there have been almost natural.
I heard somewhere that Christie’s will take over the auction next year to further expand the international reach and professionalism. The commissioners will apparently remain but the at times hilariously amateuristic duo of Von Künow and Zilliken might see their last performance this year. Yet to be confirmed completely, but if true there is only one way the prices in 2023 will go.
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As a data point, I had a 2021 Falkenstein Krettnacher Euchariusberg Riesling Kabinett “Kugel Peter” #12 this past weekend. I liked the wine a good deal, but it seemed pretty closed for right now. When I had the 2019 Hofgut Falkenstein Krettnacher Euchariusberg Riesling Spätlese #14 at about the same age, it showed a lot more IMHO for current drinking. I am pretty confident that both wines have excellent futures, but think the 2019 (of course it was a Spatlese) drank better young than the 2021. Look forward to following these over the years.
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Do we think German and other European enthusiasm is likely to catch up to the Americans in the auctions this year? I remember last year hearing how ridiculous some people thought it was to pay over 100 Euro for a Willi Schaefer auction kabinett…
Looking at my bid sheet now, decisions decisions…sucks that I have COVID right now and can’t smell/taste anything.
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Looking at the estimates I’m getting from European sources, I’d reckon so. Some I think are on the low end despite being above last year’s hammer prices.
I think a fair amount of the no limit bids on certain lots come from Europeans that have been buying certain wines year in year out. The feeling I get is that they there are a handful of folks that simply adjust their desired quantity and make no limit bids on certain wines
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Brian,
Sorry you have COVID. Hope that you get well real soon.
as a datapoint, this is my first year placing any bids in the auction and Vom Boden and Source|Material definitely have something to do with it. lol.
the logistics would have been something I just said “forget it” about before, but they make it really easy and Stephen’s breakdown and bid sheets are really fantastic.
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Thanks Howard. I’m day 5 into illness and the URI symptoms are mostly resolved (thank you vaccines). I’m honestly more upset about the loss of smell/taste than anything lol. Hope it comes back soon.
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No brain fog? That’s what really did me in.
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No, that’s what too much wine is for
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FYI for people who may be in the DC area on Oct 7 or might make a special trip to come. Includes some 2021s.
I had the COVID a couple of weeks ago after having all four shots! I could still taste and smell but I was in bed for three days. Hope you get better quick!
As a data point, I had a 2021 Falkenstein Krettnacher Euchariusberg Riesling Kabinett “Kugel Peter” #12 this past weekend. I liked the wine a good deal, but it seemed pretty closed for right now. When I had the 2019 Hofgut Falkenstein Krettnacher Euchariusberg Riesling Spätlese #14 at about the same age, it showed a lot more IMHO for current drinking. I am pretty confident that both wines have excellent futures, but think the 2019 (of course it was a Spatlese) drank better young than the 2021. Look forward to following these over the years.
Same here with very similar impressions (aromatically closed, a bit unripe, not much else next to the very prominent acids) on the Kabinetts I tasted and compared (21 vs 20; Adam, Piesporter Goldtröpfchen, Dr.Hermann Erdener Treppchen no6, Haag Juffer). Only one on par was Schaefer Domprobst Kabinett.
As a rule, I don’t buy the 21 Kabinetts without prior tasting (I bought a few rare Spats).
While that’s very consistent with what Hans-Peter has been saying, I’m still a bit surprised you found unripe notes in the Hermann and the Haag. Those were two I would have imagined would not have that issue.
The Haag was opened yesterday, so I will revisit the following days.
To be more specific, the Hermann seemed indeed unripe with a slightly hollow midpalate; for the others, the aromatic profile was “unripe”, i.e. that of green and sour apples, whereas in 2020 (and actually 18 and 19 as well) it was sweeter and more like peach, apricots, lychees.
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I like sour green apple notes over apricots and peaches. I actually really like white wines where the fruit notes plays a minor role. So maybe i should get even more 2021 
.
We are all different and that is great hehe.
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I have often tasted peaches and apricots in wines from various Rhine regions but not from wines from the MSR. What are you drinking?