Well, after deciding to go light on auction bidding this year I just submitted my bidding sheet. At least it’s a good time to take advantage of the Euro being at parity.
5 Likes
Was painful submitting the bidding sheet…. We’ll see…
2 Likes
Is the 2021 vintage excitement because it has certain characteristics that haven’t been seen in this combination in many years/decades (e.g. high acid + high “dry extract”), or is the fact that this is the last or among the last cold-weather vintages driving some of the excitement (e.g. this could be the last time you will see a “classical” vintage)? The latter doesn’t imply that the vintage is any less worthy of attention/praise/buying, but I am just curious how much the climate-related issues and rapidly decreasing frequency of ‘cold’ vintages are playing into the excitement.
What’s the material difference between the two?
See Hans-Peter’s explanation:
I’m very excited because this vintage seems very different than recent vintages (and I like variety) and the acidity seems to be higher than many recent vintages and I’m looking forward to experiencing more tension than I have in recent vintages.
I haven’t tasted the vintage yet and will be going to a fairly comprehensive tastings next week. Based on what I’ve read, it sounds a good bit like ‘17 to me. Anyone care to explain the difference?
Thanks
1 Like
It’s the latest and greatest.
1 Like
From the two dozen or so 21ers wines I’ve tasted (admittedly, a small sample relative to folks like Robert who tasted 100s of wines from the vintage), my impressions were similar to what Tom described experiencing in the 2021er Emrich Schonleber Mineral upthread. They have a lot of concentration (both aromatically and on the palate) and dry extract, but they manage to retain a lightness to them. To me, 17ers felt a lot ‘bigger’ and denser on the palate.
2 Likes
Hmmm. Its hard for me to think of the ‘17s as big or dense in light of the two successive vintages after it. I think of ‘17 as low yields with concentration coming late, meaning lots of dry extract but with high acidity. The end result for me, at least in ‘17, is a vintage that I like very much, but where the top vineyards really outshine those that struggle to ripen, and show exactly why they are considered top vineyards. Sounds like ‘17 may be a touch riper. I guess I will know more next week. I’m excited to try the wines but really struggling with some of the hype.
Is Flatiron NYC still doing the auction this year?
1 Like
I meant in the comparative sense between 17 and 21. Certainly would not classify 17 as a big in the overall wider vintage context. And again, my sample size is limited to say the least. Haven’t tried producers like Willi Schaefer and JJ Prum yet, which to me are always two big vintage data points for pradikat wines in the Mosel.
Eager to hear your thoughts and impressions on the wines.
I see. That makes sense. Thanks. I suppose that would make for a pretty attractive vintage, although I will cross my fingers for more stickies soon.
Not requesting it means I couldn’t be tempted.
There were a couple of very tempting wines I just ended up leaving out.
The goal for my cellar in general is to avoid having precious bottles I hesitate to open. I don’t want to constantly be trying to figure out the optimal drinking window for my single bottle of x, y, or z wine, nor be worried about needing a special occasion to open said wine. To me that means buying in larger quantities, which ends focusing the my selection and excluding a few as the cost of a 6pk or a case would prove a bit more than I’m comfortable with.
1 Like
Good question. Haven’t heard anything from Clara. Though I suspect only being able to bid on the Skurnik producers is quite limiting to many and makes them go with another intermediary, either partly or in whole.
Well if the number of places offering bids is any indication, this year will not be cheap. It used to be insiders only. And by used to be I mean 2020.
1 Like
Ease and wider access is certainly a big driving force in auction pricing IMO.
Vom boden lured me into participating in this year’s auction and my bids prob wont be making things cheaper for folks! (And im not a millennium)
I asked Clara and she wasn’t sure—they are busy getting the shop back up and running.
1 Like
It’s also dependent on Skurnik. And at this point, I’d argue both Flatiron and Skurnik missed the timing of it. Quite a handful of the potential participants have already submitted their bidding sheets through other intermediaries or are in the processing of doing so soon.