I’m sorry but these prices are comical. Is anyone buying? I guess so given the near-doubling in just three years. But who? IIRC, the 2015s at this retailer sat for a while, and that was for a vintage with near unprecedented hype.
Believe we got the same offer – also shocked that the pricing has ramped up this much. And you are correct; they actually still have 4 bottles of the 15 QbA in stock (for $44 apiece!)
For the Auslese: Average price on Cellartracker is $521. In Germany they sell for roughly $400+. In the US, Vinfolio is offering it for $485 (so not much above the 2015), SommPicks in San Francisco is selling it for $609. K&L for $699.
Luckily I like the Kabinett best so I still buy it every year. The problem with Egon Muller is that every major high end collector (the types with consultants) buy at least one German wine every year and its Egon Muller and now probably Keller.
Eh, I don’t see the appeal of his Spatlese even for the more typical pricing, especially when there are so many great Sptatlesen out there for a fraction of the price.
I was told a while back that his TBA is the most expensive wine in the world per ounce at regular release pricing. I can only imagine how much future vintages will go for.
The thing about verticals, is that you have to buy every vintage. So I’m afraid I bought all the 2018’s I could get my hands on. Mags too and even some 3 Liters…
The other thing is, that his wines have the ability to degrade other top wines. This could be another reason for the price hike(s)!
And I agree with others that you can buy a lot of top wines in Germany, especially within the Prädikats Kabinett and Spätlese!
I didn’t love the Egon ‘18s that I tried. Worth noting that there is a new winemaker there starting with ‘18. 17s and 16s are very, very good. I thought some of the ale Gallais wines from those vintages were really exciting. The wines have always been more expensive than others. I think the estate wants it that way. For my money Lauer is a much better value in the Saar.
A
Definitely not buying at this level of pricing, happy to have some 15s and 16s at the old pricing, but I did taste the 18s a little over a month ago, in the context of a very large smorgasbord tasting where I got to about 56 wines–I tasted the Mullers fairly early on that day:
2018 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Ries Kabinett
Almost a ricecake-sake thing wafts up from the glass. Lemongrass too. Wow—even at the Kabinett level, a burst of yellow fruit on the front and it glides effortlessly to the back of your throat. Star fruit even. I guessed—9%? Yup, 9%. Very good
2018 Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Ries Spat
More reserved in the schnozz, funny enough, more mineral and steel here. This one almost drinks like a VT—peach, lime and apple have equal say. But there is underlying real conviction. And this is licklicious. #9
2018 Egon Muller Wiltinger Braune Kupp Auslese
Much the same profile as the Spat, maybe with the add of some mulled cider aromatics. More intensified on palate, will appeal to those who like that—I actually slightly prefer the energy in the Spat, but this is no slouch wine.