Five months ago, we highlighted that in Germany, “both the quality of the wines and the relative value they represent is being recognised beyond a once small and focussed circle.”
This continued into August where Stephan Reinhardt, writing for the Wine Advocate, posted his most comprehensive report on the region. He awarded two outright 100 points, three potential perfect scores and hundreds in the high 90s, while noting that the “2019 vintage has produced some of the greatest, finest, and most energetic Rieslings of the past 20 years”.
He further advised on the newest vintage, explaining that it was one to “buy now because the 2019s will be sold out soon”. He also added that “as a consequence of the vintage and its moods, the crop was ridiculously small in 2019. In general, it was about 25% down compared to an average harvest.” The 2018 vintage currently stands as the market favourite, with 28% of trade volume but the highly scored 2019s are beginning to be released – for example, Donnhoff’s 2019s last Friday.
While the market for German wines has been building steadily for some time now, it is certainly gathering pace. Year-to-date, 2020 trade value is up ten-fold on 2019 totals. Demand, as reflected by LIVE bids, is up 300% on 2019 and 1,500% on 2017. Furthermore, the demand seems to be global, with no single buying region dominating the increased trade.
Attached are LIVE bids of German wines including Donnhoff Kreuznacher Krotenpfuhl Riesling GG 2019 (WA, 91) and Keller Westhofener Kirchspiel Riesling GG 2019 (JR, 18.5).
The Verband Deutscher Prädikats (VDP) auctions also begin this week, where top German wines from the current vintage are brought to the market. Mosel, Saar, and Ruwer are all set to go on auction this Friday the 18th September.
