Where are folks sourcing 2021 Falkenstein from? I haven’t been able to track down any at my usual retailers.
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Most places are sold out. I got mine from the usual 15 or so places, happy to name them but they are sold out.
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I live in Europe; I sourced these last bottles from a dedicated retailer in Germany. Sold out everywhere.
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I’ve always been able to get them from WHWC.
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I got a hit from Wine-Searcher a couple of weeks ago for the Gisela from a Colorado merchant I had never bought from. The price seemed very fair to me ($35) compared to what I paid Bassins for the 2019-2020 so I bought four and left four for someone else. Those were sold within a couple of hours too.
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Which retailer did you purchase from? Curious as to what their other selections look like if they’re carrying Falkenstein…
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It is hard to find a source of falks in the US unless you have history w/ retailers that get an allocation. 2 of us had to go to 9 different retailers to source what we wanted to buy of the 2021’s. One or two retailers were found by checking wine-searcher frequently. It took work though, and our orders were placed over 2 months ago. May be harder to find them now.
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The top wines always sell out in a few hours max. Have to be quick or you will be thirsty!
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Any comments on 2021 Künstler Hochheimer Hölle Riesling Großes Gewächs ?
Envoyer has it for $50. Suckling rated 99 points (but aren’t they all?).
Often times, they sell out in a few minutes. It’s pretty wild.
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Have to admit this is a hype I just don’t get. I’ve never had a Falkenstein of any level that was more than a pleasant drink for a good price. I am truly confused by how excited people are for these. Usually I see the appeal, even if I don’t share it. Not here. Oh, well. More for you guys!
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I enjoy them, but I’m not worried if I can’t get any. I can see the appeal though.
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Taste is subjective, but to my palate Falkenstein has a singular style and flavor profile that is very consistent across vintages (with some variation of course). And it’s a style I like a lot. Combine that with very reasonable pricing and it becomes a wine worth hunting for. It’s a lot easier for me to get excited about buying a case of wine that costs in the $30s every vintage vs a much higher price. And I really like the contrast of these wines with other Mosel Rieslings I like a lot (e.g. Schaefer, JJ Prüm).
The other factor driving interest in Falkenstein is hype, or maybe better to call it Berserkerness. We rave about it here, the prices are modest, and people jump in to try it. Next thing they’re hunting for a case or two like I do. When board enthusiasm gives birth to board darlings it can certainly impact availability for small producers.
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Agreed. The wines are of a particular style, and if you like the style, they are a good value. It’s the hype I can’t get. It seems way out of proportion to the wines, even if you like the style. I was shocked to see Falkenstein jumping to top 10 or 5 cellar holdings for a number of people over a few years.
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I really like Künstler, and bit on that order as I can rarely source the wines.
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I think of it like my son with Pokemon…gotta collect them all! They have like 15 different wines a year so can easily end up with a few cases. Personally I do like them a lot but have stopped worrying about getting each one…I take whatever my main source offers me and that’s about it.
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Understood. But hype defies reason. I could name quite a few other hyped producers that have gotten everyones’ undies in a bunch. I’ve gotten sucked in at least once, and after tasting the wines have scratched my head in confusion. Generally low price seems to be a fairly common ingredient but of course that barely explains any of it.
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You are on to something, but I won’t elaborate, as anything other than wild praise for board favorites elicits brutal responses. It’s eBob all over again.
Denver Wine Merchant
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Great merchant! Owned by a couple of somms (advanced, master). Buy from them with confidence.
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