Just Arrived: A Stellar Vintage - Hofgut Falkenstein 2023
Wishing you a joyous Lunar New Year🧧! May the Year of the Snake 🐍 bring you strength, prosperity, and happiness!
To kick off the year, we’re excited to introduce an exceptional selection of wines. Presenting the 2023 vintage from Hofgut Falkenstein, a boutique and highly regarded German winery in Saar . Known for its classic, bright, and complex Rieslings crafted using ultra-traditional methods, the 2023 vintage is described as one of the finest✨ since the magical 2016.
According to the Webers in their interview with Mosel Fine Wines,
“The resulting wines even exceeded our high hopes. We just love this sense of freshness, raciness, and great depth. To us, it’s a classic Falkenstein vintage!”
If you’re new to Hofgut Falkenstein, it is a family-run estate led by father-and-son duo Erich and Johannes Weber, cultivating about 9 hectares of primarily old Riesling vines🌱, including over 1 hectare of ungrafted plants. The vines average 40-50 years, with the oldest vines reaching 60-90 years. Their prime plots in Euchariusberg (also known as Großschock) —slightly over 2.8 hectares—are among the best sites in Saar, producing powerful wines with rich mineral character.
Practicing organic farming, they hand-harvest grapes at low ripeness levels and gently press them, allowing the musts to settle overnight. Fermentation occurs in traditional casks without added yeast, using 1,000-liter ancient oak Fuder and 500-liter Halbfuder vessels (the traditional fermenting and aging vessels for Mosel wine). Each Fuder is bottled separately, and the cask nicknames, along with AP numbers, help showcase the unique influence of each vessel on the wine’s taste, texture, and depth.🤩 Their Rieslings burst with mineral tension and vibrant acidity, with even the sweeter wines feeling drier than expected due to their refined touch. Low in alcohol yet rich in complexity, these wines showcase the unique nuances of their terroir.
Despite the challenges of the 2023 growing season—ranging from drought to heavy rain and heat—the Webers managed to produce stunning wines. While there was significant fungal pressure from the late summer rains, they tackled the situation by reducing yields early, ensuring ripe grapes at harvest. The harvest period enjoyed good weather, allowing for clean, high-quality grapes.
Treat yourself to the 2023 vintage—described by the discerning Webers as exceeding their high expectations! 😋😋😋
1/ Hofgut Falkenstein Krettnacher Euchariusberg Riesling Kabinett (Kugal Peter) 2023 - Bt | MFW94
HK$295 per bottle
The 2023er Krettnacher Euchariusberg Riesling Kabinett Kugel Peter (the reference to this internal cask name is provided in small print on the label after the AP number) was harvested on 50-year-old from partially un-grafted vines in the prime Gross Schock sector of the vineyard, which was classified in the highest category on the old taxation maps and was fermented down to barely fruity-styled levels of residual sugar. It offers a gorgeous nose made of citrusy fruits, gooseberry, starfruit, mint, slate, whipped cream, and slate. The wine is stunningly juicy and focused on the palate and leaves a superb feel of fresh fruits, minerals and mint in the superbly focused and elegant finish. This is a great Kabinett in the making! 2033-2043
Score: 94
Issue No 71 - June 2024, www.moselfinewines.com
2/ Hofgut Falkenstein Niedermenniger Herrenberg Riesling Spatlese feinherb (Palm) 2023 - Bt | MFW95
HK$305 per bottle
The 2023er Niedermenniger Herrenberg Riesling Spätlese Feinherb Palm (the reference to this internal cask name is provided in small print on the label after the AP number) comes from different small parcels on the western side of the vineyard and was fermented down to off-dry levels of residual sugar. This wine offers a stunning and not overly loud nose made of mirabelle, citrusy fruits, smoke, herbs, and a hint of bergamot. It is beautifully subtle and finely chiseled on the palate, where the ripe zesty side is beautifully wrapped into creamy elements. The finish is superbly focused and dry-tasting more than off-dry. What a beauty! 2033-2048
Score: 95
Issue No 71 - June 2024, www.moselfinewines.com
3/ Hofgut Falkenstein Krettnacher Euchariusberg Riesling Spatlese (Klaus) 2023 - Bt | MFW94
HK$370 per bottle
The 2023er Krettnacher Euchariusberg Riesling Spätlese Klaus (the reference to this internal cask name is provided in small print on the label after the AP number) comes from fruit harvested on 60-year-old vines in the prime Gross Schock sector of the vineyard and was fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar. This offers a beautiful nose of bitter lemon, mint, white peach, cream, and smoke. It proves beautifully creamy yet focused on the palate and leaves a gorgeous, slightly earthy feel in the long finish. Citrusy and minty elements add to the pleasure in the long and lingering finish. 2033-2043
Score: 94
Issue No 71 - June 2024, www.moselfinewines.com
4/ Hofgut Falkenstein Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett Alte Reben (Mia) 2023 - Bt | MFW94+
HK$420 per bottle
The 2023er Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett Alte Reben Mia (the reference to this internal cask name is provided in small print on the label after the AP number) is made from fruit harvested on old vines planted in the 1960s and was fermented down to barely fruity-styled levels of residual sugar. This offers a stunning nose of elderflower, mint, pear, citrusy elements, starfruit, and smoke. The wine offers a great feel of green herbs and fine spices on the racy yet delicately smooth palate and leaves an incredibly vibrating feel in the long and juicy finish. This is a stunning Kabinett in the making! The potential for upside is obvious if the wine develops even more complexity over time. 2033-2043
Score: 94+
Issue No 71 - June 2024, www.moselfinewines.com
In stock now, and offered subject to final confirmation and remaining unsold. E. & O. E.
HK Local delivery is free for purchases at or over HK$1,500 on wines and Jancis Robinson Wine Glasses. Otherwise there is a HK$100 charge for orders below HK$1,500. A surcharge will be added to orders delivering to Discovery Bay, Ma Wan and Airport.