Time for the annual German wine auctions!

One of the odd little corners of German wine (come to think of it, it's odd corners all the way down...) is the auction process. I participated for the first time two years ago and really enjoyed the resulting 2013 Fred Prinz Hallgartener Jungfer Riesling Kabinett Goldkapsel. Surprisingly, individuals are allowed to bid, through an intermediary. This year I was thinking about getting some of the 2015. Also, I was looking at the Schmitges 2015 Erden Treppchen, Riesling Grosses Gewächs and the Von Beulwitz 2015 Kasel Nies´chen, Riesling Spätlese Alte Reben. If you go in person you can taste, I believe, but the rest of us have to rely on the guides published by the likes of Mosel Fine Wine.

The list of wines from the various auctions is available from Dee Vine Wines (I have no commercial connection), who will accept bids through September 12th. It's surprisingly affordable, since they don't take their usual margin, just 10% plus shipping. Of course, you'd better be confident in your pricing, or else you could overpay.

Interesting. Lots of business opportunities!

I haven't drunk many Auction wines in recent years. I tend to shy away because the combination of extra high prices and extra intensity is not always what I want. But would be interesting to taste, especially in 2015.

I agree, but the high prices are way up there so that counts me out. I am happy with what is on the shelf here downtown..and of course in my cellar .

[David M. Bueker]

I went to the Nahe auction in 2003 with Peter Ruhrberg. If you go you do get to taste. What a day that was.

Interesting. Lots of business opportunities!

I haven't drunk many Auction wines in recent years. I tend to shy away because the combination of extra high prices and extra intensity is not always what I want. But would be interesting to taste, especially in 2015.

Yes, and that's why my first purchase was a Kabinett, which was well into Spätlese territory, probably legally Auslese, but a very nice drink. Vivid, to be sure. I'm a little scared what an auction GG would be like, but I really enjoy the aromatics of the regular in other years, so why not?

I agree, but the high prices are way up there so that counts me out. I am happy with what is on the shelf here downtown..and of course in my cellar .

Yes, some are incredibly high. The JJ Prüm Auslese is €110 for a full bottle! I am looking at the cheaper ones, for sure. It's interesting that they feature so few dry wines, relative to the German market which, I'm told, focusses on them.

I went to the Nahe auction in 2003 with Peter Ruhrberg. If you go you do get to taste. What a day that was.

Living the dream, David. I suppose I should make a trip out of it one day.

I'm a little scared what an auction GG would be like...

Why. It's not like 'regular' GGs are overloaded with thickness, especially the MSR ones.

Thanks for link Walter.
Auciion bottlings can be pretty special. I'd love to bid on some Zilliken, MaxGrun, Prum, etc but I'd betting prices are well above 2014s,.

Just got my invoice back, and I got all my bottles: 2015 VON BEULWITZ Kasel Nies ́chen, Riesling Spätlese Alte Reben Auction for €18, 2015 PRINZ Hallgarten Jungfer, Riesling Kabinett Auction for €15, and 2015 SCHMITGES Erden, Treppchen Riesling Grosses Gewächs Auction for €20. Increase each of those prices by 26% to account for currency, commission, and freight, and I'm very glad to have participated. Dee Vine even helped me out when my order email got caught in a spam filter; they really treat customers the way they themselves want to be treated.

Just got my invoice back, and I got all my bottles...

Congrats. Lots of fun drinking ahead!

Great stuff Walter. Rahsaan and myself will help you drink some of these gems.

I'm a little scared what an auction GG would be like...

Why. It's not like 'regular' GGs are overloaded with thickness, especially the MSR ones.

I've probably only had a half-dozen GGs, just outside my normal price range, but the 2009 Schmitges Prälat was a bit much. Too much extract, too much acid, I liked it a lot but wondered if it wouldn't have been better with a waterback. I drank a 2013 Prinz auction kabinett tonight and it was very, well, very. Delicious, just intense. A dry spätlese might be over the top. Or are they allowing off-dry now?

Thanks all for your congratulations, I will certainly pop a bottle when they arrive in June. If anyone wants to get together for a Bay Area dinner, let me know.

I've probably only had a half-dozen GGs, just outside my normal price range, but the 2009 Schmitges Prälat was a bit much. Too much extract, too much acid, I liked it a lot but wondered if it wouldn't have been better with a waterback. I drank a 2013 Prinz auction kabinett tonight and it was very, well, very. Delicious, just intense. A dry spätlese might be over the top.

Like everything, I think it's mainly a function of producer style and vintage. Sure some GGs are too intense and over the top. But in my experience, if one can generalize, GGs are certainly slimmer and lighter than their Austrian counterparts.